I think Squilliam might be talking about all the hidden economic costs of using Linux. That includes any time a user needs to spend to learn how to install, configure, and operate a Linux system and it includes any opportunity costs for software which is challenging or impossible to use in a Linux environment. And outside of support contracts, it's probably easier to find some kid to fix up the Windows machine that you're too unskilled to maintain properly yourself than it is to find a kid who can smooth out the Linux distro that isn't installing properly for you.
These hidden costs are what are really holding back Linux, since obviously the price tag isn't a barrier. If the cost of using Linux for many people wasn't higher than using Windows, they'd be using Linux already.
"The worst part about these reviews is they are [subjective]--and their scores often depend on how drunk you got the media at a Street Fighter event." — Mona Hamilton, Capcom Senior VP of Marketing
*Image indefinitely borrowed from BrainBoxLtd without his consent.
