I just want to give an opinion:
As a developer I often use Linux for specific tasks.
If I set up a system to use it as development environment, I struggle like one week to get everything working as I whish.
After that it'll work until the Hardware dies (sometimes this is forever), without changing anything.
People often argue that Linux is something, you always need to fix or improve. My experience is completetly different.
As a producer I'm running Windows (atm, but I will change to Mac).
The only reason for this is that there is no alternative for a DAW but to use Windows or Mac (which is an expensive hardware base).
OK, this was never a problem before, but the last years I suffered very often from system crashes. My Windows 7 (Ultimate 64) doesn't even start in Failsafe Mode(!) anymore.
Re-insallation with the Security-DVD (not real Windows Installation DVD) is not possible (although it's made for this task).
With Windows there is allways something I have to fix. And I don't know why. The DAW in the Studio isn't even connected to the internet!
But after ~1 year every Windows I have dies or gets slower and slower every day I use it. (Maybe I am the fault, not the system
)
The Thing is: With Linux I don't run into this trouble! (And I know others using Mac don't, too).
I don't need a system that I have to re-install year after year, just to work properly. This costs me money!
With Linux I don't have data-loss and system deahts.(or haven't had until today at least)
But I don't want to buy over-priced fruit-hardware with nearly no options.
From a developers view, I know that is must be PITA to make a software like Reaper run within the Linux-audio-hardware environment.
But if it did (and provide me VST - Support) I would pay much money for it!
And I mean not running within Wine!
I mean a native running solution, featuring all(!) stuff you have on windows, too.
(f.e.: my beloved Steven Slate Drums 3.5 needs to run natively within reaper. Native running VSTs are possible, since Steinberg released the API)
Btw. my Windows at home is completly dead. Now I run Ubuntu, without the possibility to make some guitar tracks at the weekends. This is driving me nutz!
So.....I hope someone from Cockos hears how much I am yearning for a Linux-Solution! It would be a breakthrough for me!
PS: I forgot to mention that I don't care about "uuuhhh closed source is so evil, blah blah".