Things change, and it is important to recognize that. To give you an idea of what I mean, consider those Linux enthusiasts who criticize Windows based upon the last time they used it. These days, they may be pointing out faults that were fixed in earlier releases of Windows. (Consider security, which was addressed in Vista and XP service packs. Consider stability, which was addressed in consumer releases with XP.) It is also important to differentiate distributions, since different distributions are intended for different users and it is all too easy to point the finger at the wrong people. Windows doesn't have the problem to the same degree, but it still exists. Is it any more proper to blame Microsoft for poor drivers from independent vendors or computer manufacturers for loading their products with junk than it is to blame desktop user oriented Linux distributions for practices common for features implemented in (and only in) developer or server oriented distributions?

Possibly. Yet also keep in mind that those users have been acclimated to drive letters for over 30 years. It is difficult to establish what is better without prejudice under such circumstances.