My biggest gripe against Microsoft is I have to use their products in one form or another. I don't know linux well at all and I still get aol for free so I just minimize it and launch explorer.
Microsoft's practices will always be suspect. But I would install the RH8 version I have right now if I could use it to connect to the internet with my current provider. In fact I would leap at a chance to do this. However, a little while ago when I had a little bit of money I called an isp and asked if they supported linux and their response was " i think so" and if that is the kind of support the services provide I will stay with XP until something better comes along, or at least something that has mainstream support.
Now what company is going to heavily invest in a product that only a handful of people are competent to run? I am not saying M$ has a great product or there is more competent support but the sheer volume of options to take with M$ products has to make it attracrive to business.