Here is a long justification I ran across that argues that the real problem with Linux adoption is that it is different from Windows. In other words people coming from Windows to Linux just have the wrong expectations. I don't quite buy the argument which I feel boils down to "the problem is the users".

Before you start insisting that something about Linux needs fixing, there's one important question to ask: "Do experienced users have a problem with this?"

If the answer is "No", then the problem is on your end. If other people can use it successfully, why can't you? Have you taken the time to learn how to use it? Or did you just expect it to work for you right from the word 'Go'?

The author also asserts that the differences between Windows and Linux are much like the differences between a car and a motorcycle. They are not simply the differences between two brands of car (e.g. Mercedes and BMW). I think that there is a huge group of users out there who do not consider there OS to be like a car or a motorcycle, but more like gasoline. They just want it to power the vehicle (applications) that they are using to get where they want to go.

It is still good food for thought and some of it has merit. Linux and FOSS need to assert their own identity more than they need to emulate Windows in my opinion. That doesn't mean that their identity can be inferior however.

Here is another somewhat related article from Computer World quoting Dan Kuznetsky from IDC on what is going on with Linux adoption.