I'll add my two cents about Microsoft...
Ever since I switched to being a regular Linux user, I took notice that many in the Linux community absolutely DESPISE Microsoft. But I just can't agree with them. One thing that I think many people tend to forget is WHO Microsoft tailors its software to...the masses.
The general population does not know the difference between a bloated piece of software and non-bloated...between IE and Firefox...etc..
And to tell you the truth, I'd venture to say that a majority really don't care...They just want something that's SUPER EASY to do, and that's it!
They don't want to type commands into terminals, or God-forbid READ how anything works.
So Microsoft provides it.
Is it the best? Is it the most efficient?
No way!
But it satisfies the wants of the general population...
To say that EVERYBODY should use Linux over Windows because Linux is so much better, is like saying everybody should drink vegetable juice over Coca-Cola, because vegetable juice is so much better for you.
While both may be true, the probabilities of people in general choosing to do either is pretty close to zero.
Ok...maybe that was a little bit more than 2 cents.
