I can agree with this. I've always said that the concept of Linux needs to be a centralized experience for most, and then diverging distros for those who want to seek them for others. Like when you install Linux for the first time, it's just called "Linux". That's the name of the distro. And it is a collection of all the other OS's most popular features. It is the default linux experience. If YOU want to change something, you can, but most won't. Windows 95 and later were actually pretty customizable, but how many people actually customized their window colors? I knew a few people who did. Most didn't.

And that's the thing about this kind of mass appeal that linux would experience. Terminal would still work, just as it does today, but it wouldn't be the default behavior for most. Terminal is the second biggest reason people don't use linux.

So for there to be a singular starting experience, it needs to basically be "This is linux. You've never used it, but you already know how. All your programs from mac and windows work here. Plus it's free, and more secure without ads or tracking."

That alone would be the driving force. Once they're into the ecosystem, they can play with terminal if they want. They can customize if they want. But I have a feeling that most would stay with whatever the default experience was for their entire time using the system.

And the part where "all your apps work" is part of what I'm talking about with everybody catching ReactOS to modern. It's not modern right now, but that's due to lack of development. I'm saying with a huge development increase, it could be a small part of what makes your vision of a popular linux a reality. One of many moving parts basically.

Some applications require relatively obscure userspace quirks and tricks, in which case it doesn’t matter if they’re running through Linux+Wine or ReactOS+Wine if Wine doesn’t implement them.

I thought the whole goal of ReactOS was to get to a point where wine isn't needed at all. You just take the .exe installer, and install it. Just like windows.

The issue is that they're so poorly staffed that they're waaaaaay behind on what Windows considers modern. They're doing an impressive job reverse engeneering, but it's still a 20 year old system. They partially rely on wine currently because of how unfinished THEIR work is.

But my vision is that thousands of people each contributing small little bits here and there, all contributing to the code of ReactOS. Eventually they could move beyond XP, into Windows & era, and Windows 8 era, and Windows 10 era, and Windows 11 era. But since it's NOT microsoft, and since it's NOT windows, it wouldn't come with any of the stuff people hate about those versions. It would come with the compatibility, but not the forced spying, or the bloat, or the forced subscriptions.

The thing I read is that Windows 95 was composed of around 1000 people all working towards the same goal, with the same tools, at the same time. All getting paid as their full time job. ReactOS has about 30 people, who are all fighting with each other. Their last stable release was 2021, but they do have nightly builds that are "current". But with so much infighting, and so few people, and not being a full time priority, it doesn't get the support it should.

As far as what linux would gain by ReactOS reverse engeneering modern day OS's? It would mean ANY program that was originally intended for windows could be installed via the .exe file, on ANY linux distro. Using the same gui setup that windows users know how to do. Which in turn would make it 1000% easier to convince a new user to switch from Windows to Linux, if you could say "You can run all the same programs, you already know how to use it, and it's free." THAT would be the game changer.