Quoting: "...when would an end-user need to use the command for any of his daily tasks? " Well, everyday! Not exactly the command line, but real world applications running programs emulating VT100 and 3270 terminals in full text mode. Almost any major company (banks, retailers, supermarkets, etc) uses text screen programs. You don't need a Windows, or for that matter, not even a PC, a terminal would do. The thing is that in real life, you run a mix of Windows applications (that off course can be run in Linux at a more lower cost) and many text-based apps. How long will this be the norm? At least 20 more years, by my humble understanding.

After trying to assemble a PC based unit for less money than a commercial Key System, I decided to buy a Panasonic Hybrid TD308 (up to 6 lines, 24 extensions) for about 600 dls including Call-ID, Doorbell Interface for up to four doors, and Music On-Hold. I still believe the deciding factor could be the phone itself (programmable keys, zone voice interphone capable, hands free, etc). I needed 3 external lines, 10 extensions, 2 doorbell (3 in the future), call-id, and zone calling/1 external speaker (My house is a 4-level unit, so my wife was tired of shouting from floor to floor...) Considering the cost of the PC (150 dls for a second hand unit), 150 dls for each ringer card (four ports per card, three cards required), 100 dls for a two line external lines (two cards required), and about 70 dls for each single doorbell interface (you lose 1 extension for each doorbell), the system I needed came to around 940 dls, vs 600 dls for an "appliance" I can use right away, versus having fun (and spending two or three weeks making things work in Linux) Still you need the phones with display (if you want call-id on the phone), at about 40 dls each, but.... how do you make individual and zone-voice calling operate under Asterix or whatever you use???.