I agree completely. Design by community is what every distro does. As a result, Linux got nowhere on the desktop. Maybe the problem lies in how Ubuntu communicates. It is very much a "we'll do it how we want to do it". And as a result, it's been very successful. If Ubuntu was designed by the community, it would be just another distro. The fact that it has top-down directed design means it can differentiate. Ubuntu's measure of success can be directly tied to the amount of outrage from the Linux community, people who don't seem to understand that Ubuntu is Ubuntu and Debian is Linux and they can both successfully coexist.
Linux on the desktop was always a non-starter until Ubuntu gave it a kick in the ass. Now there's even a successful Ubuntu-only PC maker, System76 making (not quite) Apple-style laptops. Because of Shuttleworth, we have a nearly-ready viable third option in the market.
Do I agree with all their choices? No. Am I using Ubuntu on a daily basis? No. Am I looking forward to the day when they announce Ubuntu is "ready"? Hell yes. If you have a point, make it. If you just want to complain, get a cat.
Linux on the desktop was always a non-starter until Ubuntu gave it a kick in the ass. Now there's even a successful Ubuntu-only PC maker, System76 making (not quite) Apple-style laptops. Because of Shuttleworth, we have a nearly-ready viable third option in the market.
Do I agree with all their choices? No. Am I using Ubuntu on a daily basis? No. Am I looking forward to the day when they announce Ubuntu is "ready"? Hell yes. If you have a point, make it. If you just want to complain, get a cat.