I wouldn't say the Linux Desktop has gotten any more capable since Compiz, so no. (Nor have most desktops - depending on how much you value things like iMessage integration in modern Macs.) Before that, since... Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox and the decline of IE-only sites? Office file format compatibility?

It's more the examples provided in the original article: cpu firmware blobs, network firmware blobs, same as always, just even more.