Setting aside the fact that LaTeX will perform typesetting, those word processing tools utterly fail for creation of documents with lots of (or complex) equations.

They are also very cumbersome for generating cross-references, bibliographic formatting, and management of figures/tables.

One killer feature MS Word *does* have over TeX-based solutions for now is excellent commenting, change tracking and shared collaboration features.

I know both worlds well, having used MS Word for collaborative proposal writing, and TeX for scientific publishing. I strongly prefer LaTeX.

As a plasma physicist myself, that's exactly the sentiment.

In the plasma physics community, DTACQ digitizers have been becoming increasingly popular, not only because the hardware is top-notch, but they all run embedded Linux and all drivers are GPL.

I think one of the best examples of this topic has to be the Exile project, which has successfully created a cross-platform, open source, modern-day engine to play Origin Software's classic Ultima VII and Ultima VII:Serpent Isle games.

In a similar vein is the Pentagram project, which aims to make a similar engine (and repeat the same daunting reverse-engineering task) for Ultima VIII. If you are an Ultima fan, and *haven't* heard of these projects, go and download them right now. :)