But do the mainstream buy it? What's their selling point aimed at them?
Everybody who I know who uses or tries ubuntu is either:
- A software developer of some kind.
- An advanced or else adventurous user who wants perspective.
- A family member of one of the above.
Neither of those is "mainstream" in that sense. And making product mainly used by X while keeping Z in mind is a troublesome tactic.
That said, Unity might deter the most enthusiastic newbies, the sort that go on to inhabit support forums and help others.