Ed you really need to "read" what I wrote.
I'm NOT playing EQ on a government computer. I'm using my PERSONAL laptop, which I cannot hookup to the net. If I was playing on a government computer I COULD PATCH.
I've been playing with Linux since Redhat 6.2 and it's more stable and even more productive than any microsoft product today. By my experience and standards. I'm currently playing with 9.
You CAN play EQ on EQ live servers using linux as well. I also see people using EthernalQuest and EQEMu on linux. I just haven't loaded it on all of my machines yet.
As for tech support I seriously think your wrong. I've called microsoft many times when I've encountered bugs or problems with their software, I always get the first level tech support who's in college and reading off preprogrammed screens that he keeps typing my questions into. He insists he can help me and refuses to pass me up to higher level tech support. I eventualy end the call without ever figuring out the "REAL" Problem. An FDisk/Format/Reinstall usually solves the issues .... temporarily. But that's the method for most any windows problem.
Hell, most MCSE certified people aren't worth the paper their certificate is written on. I don't like Bill Gates and I don't like what he's incorporating into his software packages. I don't like MS watching what we are doing on our machines and I don't think they should be able to sell software with that many bugs, security holes and problems.
And I really meant that. You get ALOT more support here than I've ever seen from Microsoft.
But this is an entirely different discussion.