I'm confused...
... All you lot complaining you have to endlessly tweak config files and compile every piece of software you want to use... are you just repeating random crap you've heard, or what? (Maybe you installed some ancient version of something...)
Because I've been running linux in various forms on all of my desktops (From Ubuntu through Debian, Slackware, Fedora and now at SUSE) with very little problems. (OK, the older versions of ubuntu had a fairly ugly and complex installer. Very Debian 4.0 like... )
All the newer distros (Fedora 7 and 8, and SUSE 10.3) all installed using a GUI, and all I had to do was (a bit generalised, Fedora and SUSE install in slightly different ways.)
* choose what language I wanted to use
* the layout of the keyboard I was using (actually, that part was optional, but I use a foreign layout keyboard.)
* what software I wanted (optional part again, you can leave it to install a default set of software)
* how the machine was networked (static IP, rather than DHCP which was the default.),
* made sure the sound worked,
* set the admin account password and created the first user account.
That took about an hour, including updating all the software I wanted.
Every USB device I plug in is detected and works fine, (note, I don't have any webcams, so I wouldn't know about them.) and I don't have to go hunting the filesystem to find out where they are. I get an icon on the desktop.
My TV tuner card was detected and I get to use the remote to control the PC. (Can't watch TV as I believe the card itself is broken. It didn't work under XP either... :| )
I had dual monitors working perfectly, and I didn't have to compile anything to do that, as it was all done for me.
And, as to ease of use, the family PC is running Fedora very well (albeit without sound, although I believe the hardware for that has finally flaked out, as it was dodgy under XP.)
I actually have had comments that Fedora is easier to use than XP from various family members.
So, draw your own conclusions from that, although I suspect you will keep on complaining that "teh Lunix" is only for people with PhDs and geeks with inch thick glasses. (No, I don't have a PhD, and I don't wear glasses. Although I *am* a geek.)
Some people will complain about anything, facts be damned.
Mine is the black straightjacket with the tail stitched on it...