However, there are too many Linux distros and the community will probably never standardize on one - but should agree on a "standard set" rather than having a p!$$!ng contest on "mine is bigger than yours". There are a number of things that it should consider for Joe Averageuser. One common way to install, one common "Gnome 2" desktop, One common set of base applications, A complete and usable "Help" facility, use of the "live CD/DVD" and maybe a couple of other things. Let the different distros differentiate themselves by extra offerings or allowing the more experienced user to make choices at install time (or from an install list) via an "Advanced" button. Even Windows will not get away with one flavor of Windows 8 from what I have read. I recently read one article, where Linux could have made headway back when Vista first came out. A standardized XP-like Linux could have had a real chance to pull in Windows users. IMO, Windows 8 is another opportunity that will be p!$$ed away.

And "Secure Boot" may make things quite interesting for the Linux world.