But were you trying to reply to my post?

My comments were strictly about the cost of purchasing the OS (MS, pay over and over for each upgrade, Linux, mostly free)

Was this rude to point out?

Not that it relates, but I also use Windows and took the MCSE exams as well. A cert is a cert, and is a benchmark saying, "look, I have passed a test on this technology." It does not say, "I am great!" or "Hire me!"