Maybe Open Source grew beyond expectation
On PC's, Open Source did not become a success as desktop OS, however, since Android is largely built on Open Source, it can be considered a success.
For core applications like CRM and banking software, the reasons are clear why multi billion companies use the services of other multi billion companies. The ratio of savings versus risk is low, nobody wants to dig in internet forums trying to solve an issue that is causing millions per hour in damages, or might impose a threat to the existence of the company.
Open Source has proven itself as a catalyst for innovation in the period 1995-2015 which is perhaps unseen in scale and speed. Without Linux and Open Source, most good ideas ideas would have been strangled by high costs of CALS, limits in scale, limits in security and generally lack of innovation caused by monopolies.
If there was a Noble Prize for IT, Linus Torvalds would have deserved it.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
