This is really good news. I think the second most important thing holding Linux back in taking over the desktops (after OEMs) is gaming. But if you look at Humble Indie Bundles and kickstarter (so many projects using Unity and/or promising Linux support) - things are changing for the better.
I think there's a bit more than just OEMs and gaming preventing Linux from overtaking the desktop. When netbooks first began they were mostly linux for cost cutting. Games also wouldn't have been an issue because netbooks weren't sold as gaming machines. In any case the market wholly rejected Linux on the netbook in favor of windows.
Only after the iPad recreated the tablet market. For a while netbooks were gaining traction. Just not linux netbooks.
>What's the other thing holding Linux back from the desktop in your opinion that ranks higher than either of reasons I mentioned?
You're shifting the burden of proof here. For what possible reason would anyone believe the market wants Linux on the desktop? I can think of no reason. It doesn't look as nice, it doesn't run the major apps people are used to (e.g. Photoshop, Office, etc.). What "killer feature" does Linux have that would make the masses want to switch to it, and don't say "open source" since I doubt that even a majority of people who know what that means care about that.
