I don't understand the reason why we should advocate Linux to the common user... Once the workforce is strong enough to make free software beat all the years of software made for Windows the argument of a free (as in beer) and open platform should be enough to convert users anyway (if that is your goal)

I (Marco) do not want to convert everybody to Linux or to using only Free Software, even if I would be happy if this happened. I thought this was clear from my first comment and the links I provided in it.

What I say is that it is much more important and urgent to convert people in the street to become advocates of Free Software; advocates, not users. If there is enough popular support to protect Free Software, those who want it can use it without any limitation anymore, the others... let them be, isn't this about freedom?

If you succeed to explain to as many non-geeks as possible that it is in their OWN interest (less taxes, less sw-related expenses, better access to quality education, less pollution...) to demand protection and public usage of Free as in freedom file formats and software even if they never personally use it, then it doesn't matter anymore how much it takes to make "a linux distro that grandma can use", assuming there is really a need for something like this. Freedom of choice, equal opportunities and so on are guaranteed (as far as software is concerned, of course) and that's all what matters.

What I say and am trying to do with the Family Guide to Digital Freedom is that this goal is more important than making Linux better than Windows or anything of the sort. And that in order to "explain to as many non-geeks as possible that it is in their OWN interest etc etc" it is necessary to use language and communication strategies quite different than those normally used by some FOSS advocates preaching to the choir

Ciao,
Marco Fioretti