Granted, UEFI is not the only technology that has been developed to address the "memory stick" issue.

And, I grant that it seems silly on "consumer grade" hardware. Except that I have seen a whole lot of "things that the business owner bought at Staples" sitting on a rack in a co-lo center.

I agree, there should be an extremely easy-to-use Linux distribution. Each Linux distribution family (i.e. Red Hat, Debian) has a user-friendly version, but they still have a long way to go.

I seriously doubt that anyone will claim a Linux distribution is abusing its market share - there’s no money involved. Linux is distributed for free (Libre & Gratis). Windows costs $200+. Apple makes money off hardware. Windows is installed on most computers and now it’s spying on its users. Apple is producing terrible Mac hardware, which cannot be upgraded, repaired, or expanded - with few exceptions.

Anyone is free to develop one. The difference between end users of Linux based systems and consumers who buy e.g. microsoft or apple products, is that you are "along for the ride" using freely available software, which due to various GPL or BSD style licences, you are free to use or modify however you see fit. (You're also free to develop and market a "product" as canonical, red hat et al, have done.)

The philosophy of waiting for someone to develop something easy - or "standardised" is flawed, but common among a subset of Linux users. It's at odds with how the software is actually developed.

I agree. You’re 100% right. It’s just a matter of someone having the skill and the will.

I learned Java a couple years ago, but I really should learn C++. Fortunately, the transition will be a little easier because Java inherits from C++. And even then, I really don’t think I’m ready to make a Linux distribution. But it would be great if someone else gave it a shot.

In all honesty, Linux has gotten a lot easier and there are people out there hell bent on creating "easy" software and "easy" distributions for those that want that (and most do).

To list but a few: freedesktop.org and their hosted projects (such as X.org, Wayland, DRI/DRM, systemd, dbus, gstreamer, pulseaudio, avahi, etc) are all aimed at "user friendly" desktops and collaboration/reuse of the same backends.

And gnome has certainly gone to great lengths to provide a standardised and simple desktop environment.

Yeah, it has come a long way - to the point where I could actually use it as my primary OS. I’m just saying there are a lot of folks who aren’t tech-savvy enough for some things in Linux. But yeah, it really depends on the distribution. A Slackware user might go handing out Slackware discs at work, and get a lot questions. On the other hand, an Ubuntu user could hand out Ubuntu discs at work and get no questions.

Erm, there are two Linuxes with wide support and use -- Android and Chrome OS. There's a niche player, also, which I wish were more than that -- SteamOS.
I find Android (which I am typing this on) a horrific thing to use, Chrome OS is a Linux distribution disabled my only allowing a browser and SteamOS is one disabled by just allowing games. The reason they are so horrible (to me, at least) is because they're locked down for the lowest common denominator who wants trashy pay-for-point "games" and reality TV.
Were Linux to make the changes necessary to be popular it would just becom Windows or iOS, as it has with Android.

If you want to see Unix well-deployed, just look at Macs and iPhones. Both run Unix – but you'd never know.

That’s exactly my point. Android is horrible, User Interface & security. ChromeOS is barely functional - just a web browser. I’ll stick with Ubuntu Gnome - yes, I realize Ubuntu Gnome is just Ubuntu with the Gnome desktop environment; I just prefer Gnome to Unity.

Android is what "the consumer demanded".
Anything used by "the masses" is likely to be junk as the masses are stupid, uneducated, brainwashed, ignorant and have short memory spans.

I agree. I’ve been using iOS since 2008, and I’ve been using MacOS since 2011. But now I’m looking to get out of the Mac world and into the Linux world due to the (in my opinion) crappy new Mac hardware: no upgrades, no repairs, no expansion - a techie’s nightmare.

You’re about a step away from calling them “a basket of deplorables.”.

Do you have any evidence to the contrary?

Well, no. I’m just saying that you’re an egotistical elitist, looking down on most Americans. I bet you said you'd move to Canada if Trump won. With your attitude towards most Americans, you’re a much better fit for MacRumors than LinuxQuestions. One of the great things about Linux is that it provides a great OS for people who can’t afford a Windows license (and MS Office) or a Mac. Not everyone who runs Linux has a PhD in CS.

Prety much everything you assume about me in this post is incorrect.