Most people grew up using windows. Familiarity has a huge part. Why isn’t everyone using macos?
Very different questions though. Linux offers massive and plentiful advantages over both of those.
I am not disagreeing with the familiarity idea, though; change terrifies most people.
A lot of people just need to get shit done and it’s easier to just use the tool they know than to relearn how to use a computer.
I think relearn how to use a computer is a real stretch. Like colossal. Plenty of distros and DEs make it even easier than Windows, can look exactly like either, and are far less accident prone.
I’m sure there are a lot of complex reasons. Frankly, I don’t really care why other people don’t use Linux, I use it. Exclusively.
Btw: Linux use on the desktop seems to be on a steep rise. StatsCounter claims 4.5% market share now. And I see lots of people complaining about what Microsoft does lately. Like the advertisements in the menu, fake news. And wanting to take screenshots every few seconds. People seem to start questioning things.
And I mean it’s correct that this is a desktop computer thing. If you own a smartphone, tablet, internet wifi router, embedded (smarthome) device, modern car, chances are you’re already use Linux and don’t even know. And you’ll likely be talking to Linux servers and network infrastructure all day if you’re using the internet. And I guess quite a few people are using internet services in 2024…
Ease of use when switching over. The average person just wants a personal computer to work. If they are using or interacting with new technology they will learn that new thing (we saw this with smart phones). If they are interacting with technology they are already nominally used to they want familiarity.
As someone who uses both Linux and Windows, I’m gonna say that going from windows to Linux has a bar to entry as far as it being intuitive that a lot of people just are not going to bother with.
It does not help that a lot of vocal Linux users pretend they are superior in every way to those who use anything else.