Linux Mint downloads (briefly) compromised

>> It would probably be more productive if you (Debian, ...) asked yourself the question, given all the shortcomings you see, why is Linux Mint so popular?

> One of the main reasons for being popular is the fact that they do not care about licensing issues.

No, the main reason is that end users see what appears to be a complete desktop OS that does what they want, presents a desktop environment that looks like what they want, has a software update management system that appears to work as they'd like it too, seems to be well supported, and doesn't seem to be associated with developers choosing sides in incomprehensible political wars that mean nothing to end users. Whether appearances may be misleading is irrelevant. The same goes for licensing issues. What is wrong with you people? Take off your developer hats and your crusader vests every once in a while and make at least a little effort to see things through the eyes of real world users. It's really simple. If your distribution is not the popular one, then you are not doing some things the way end users want them done.

Okay, so you highlighted some problems with Linux Mint. I found them interesting as I didn't know about all of them. What I also don't know are users that want to use Debian or, indeed, any other Linux distribution, but I don't hang out with developers. Most people don't. Do you or do you not want we non-developers to flock to your distribution? Keep making your distribution technically superior while failing to address the things that attract so many of us to Linux Mint and nothing will change. I know a fair number of people using Linux Mint. None that I know of have any particular loyalty to Linux Mint. Improve your product so that it at least equals Linux Mint in the areas that are attracting us and we'll be knocking at your door. Linux Mint is currently more marketable than Debian to the wider world of potential users. It exists and succeeds because your distribution exists and is failing, at least in terms of that wider world. Stop pounding the pulpit and do something about that. Seriously.