Jack: you are part of the problem!!
You are totally right about users stuck in the past and defending their history with bashing and rude language as the lowest in 2011.
However: defining Ubuntu/Unity as the absolute low of Linux in 2011 makes you a user also stuck in the past and resisting change. I admit: there are a couple of things that could improve Unity but I'm absolutely sure that this will happen in 12.04. In the mean time, since 11.10, I'm a happy Unity user.
And with regards to Linux on tablets: I consider Ubuntu the only candidate that is taking the right course towards this form factor. Why? guess what: because of Unity.