It is not a shortcoming of Linux itself. It is a shortcoming with the ecosystem that has developed around Linux. If the applications that are not currently available for a Linux desktop (I sorely need Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom) were suddenly available and supported natively on the OS, would that change anyone's mind about Linux. I suspect the answer is yes.

This whole thing did exactly what it was meant to do.

Microsoft, whose new Vista operating system was woefully late, give a buch of money to SCO to cuase some FUD against a rival OS that is making strong inroads. The simple action of SCO filing a lawsuit and seemingly whole heartedly beleiving in it, is wnough to make some people quesiton the viability of Linux and FOSS in general. This has the desired effect of slowing the addoption of linux, buying MS some time to get Vista out the door. Suddenly a bit after Vista is released the code in question is revealed to be nothing of consequence.

Food for thought!