Power User definition

I know the FOSS community has trouble understanding this, but most people do not use a computer just to use a computer; they are not computer geeks. They don't think that installing 20 different alternatives to try them all out is fun. They don't think that seeing new technology is fun. They don't think that shell scripting to work around a GUI flaw is fun. All of these things take time, and that time could be "better" spent doing something that most people do find fun. That may be some other computer-related task (socializing online, playing a game, etc.) or something completely unrelated to computers (going to the bar, hanging out with friends or family, hitting the beach, playing a sport, reading a book, etc.).

So this is the problem. Either (a) you admit that the Linux desktops like GNOME are by geeks for geeks and nobody else and quit eschewing the geeky power users by saying you're aiming for more casual users, or (b) you realize that non-geeks aren't like geeks and stop the endless churn and massive redesigns and instead focus on polishing the little details of the things that already worked just fine and your supposed 10's of millions of users are already comfortable and happy with.

As it is in GNOME land, both groups of users are frequently getting knocked over. I have absolutely zero doubt that the GNOME designers and developers like what they're making (or they wouldn't be making it), but making what you like and what other people like are often different tasks. As a game dev, for instance, I still think MUDs are the pinnacle of online interactions, but you don't see me trying to convince people that GemStone IV is going to take over World of Warcraft by just replacing the text commands with touchscreen gestures, do you. It would be silly to believe something like that.