I would mod this up if I had points today.
I think you're the only person reading this that understands how libraries work and how that doesn't directly translate to the digital world (due to the physical issues you claim). It's just too damn easy to pass a copy around in the digital age. Libraries never really had that as an issue.

That's "Grass" not "glass". Read the story again.

"You definitely need to use the command line at least a bit to get an Ubuntu system up an running properly"

This is simply not true. Just installed Ubuntu 9.10 on my wife's laptop and didn't need any command line anything to get everything running properly. Now, I did use the cli, but that was just because it's my preference to install some software packages that way because it's faster/easier than going into Symantec since I know the exact program name and don't have to search for it, click buttons and hit apply, just type "sudo aptitude install xxxx" and let it run its course. I'm teaching her about what the command line is and how to run simple tasks with it, but I don't ever forsee her NEEDING to use it.

Ever.

How about this for a scenario: Your old mother is having a problem with her computer. You have to tell her to click Start, Control Panel, switch to classic view ("where is that link, I don't see it? oh there it is"). Now click through a series of tabs - no, not there, the tabs are these things at the top. OK, now what options do you see? Do you see a checkbox that says ("what's a 'chaeckbox', oh I see") blah blah blah? OK, check that. Hit Apply. Now, close that window. Yeah, close it. Now go into this other panel..... etc.

Now, the Linux way. Mom, go to Applications, Accessories, Terminal. OK. Now in that window I want you to copy and paste this like I showed you: sudo command-to-do-whatever. Now hit enter. Type your password. There you go Mom.

What's easier?