Mine has been exceedingly zippy, running Ubuntu Gutsy, on just 512MB. It doesn't even go into
swap. (/proc/sys/vm/swappiness=0)
That's with an OO.o spreadsheet, wordprocecessing document, Epiphany browser session, and
Evolution email session up. It is still only using about 160MB.
I know what you mean, though. I feel so strongly about Linux that I sometimes have to stop
myself before I, as a consultant and systems admin, restrict someone else's freedom in the
name of Linux. It's an easy pit to fall into. And it can be done with the very best of
intentions.