if a moron developer decides to change an API

But that pretty much describes why Windows DLL hell happens, doesn't it? (Note that I'm not blaming Gnome, per se, but it seems to have been the harbinger of this sort of thing.)

And as for having a Linux box at home, they could spend $45 and get Solaris x86 which would likely run on their PC. But a lot of it has to do with a lack of knowledge about portable programming. I understand why, as they haven't had a lot of experience, but that excuse doesn't make it okay. Even if a mechanic can work wonders on your Model T, would you want him working on your BMW 745Li if he hadn't had any experience or, hell, even training? (Or vice versa -- I don't mean to cast aspersions on Linux here.)