OOPS I forgot to include the kneejerk rejection warning: LINUX IS VASTLY SUPERIOR TO WINDOWS I FULLY AND FREELY ACKNOWLEGE THAT, OK? I HATE Microsoft’s horseSh!t games too...
Windows just did a better marketing job and took over the computer world.
I program software for a living - I KNOW linux is superior, OK- but ask gramma if she wants the latest Ubuntu binaries to get email photos of her grandchildren? -the user interface has ONLY had a 20 year head start on Microsoft...
So, technically it is superior- but in marketing and user-friendliiness it SUX HARD
In my humble opinion Linux (open source) coding is more efficient. There is no need for the complexities that go with controling licensing. This is a big advantage on efficiency. I hate software bloat.
There is also the issue of motive. Many of the Malware problems that plague PC users are due to bundling apps and promoting click-through revenue streams that are resource hogs and scams. I have “fixed” them for years.
For me, a PC is another tool. I built my first one in 1982.
Since the purpose of an Operating System is to facilitate the use of a computer by a user I think the user interface is an essential technical aspect.
For some tasks that are easy to set up in Linux, it's functionality makes dealing with its shortcomings worthwhile.
Of course the same can be said for Windows. It's functionality makes it's shortcoming worth dealing with. However, Windows has a far broader scope of functionality in which it is usable for far more people.
Security is also an essential aspect of a modern OS. In that Windows has come a long way. It's biggest problem is that users commonly don't want to deal with being asked if they are sure they want the app that ran when they clicked object in the email they got from aunt Gerturde to run as Administrator and modify system files. They don't really understand what it means, so they are just going to click OK anyway to make the box go away.