old hardware still runs great on linux. they'll have to force windows apps on people and linux will prolly run them as well.

Or when they lock the bootloader ala android phones and you're stuck with the default Windows on your laptop?

but go show some uninitiated person a Windows forum where power users are talking about maintaining their system daily or weekly, the average person is going to still nope out.

The OS is immaterial, showing anyone uninitiated the shit power users do, you'll get that reaction. If you show me, a professional windows admin and a homelab linux admin, a Mac power user forum and my eyes will cross. But for windows or potentially Linux, it's fine. Don't use the users' lack of understanding as a mark against it, because that same mark is on every OS.

Linux itself has been usable by the tech illiterate for over a decade. My dead mother could use it just fine after I got sick of reinstalling windows, and she's been gone damned near that long. Sure, they have to have assistance in getting it installed right now because even the windows terminal terrifies them, but get it installed and a base configuration in place and it takes care of itself for the most part.

for regular people all they need to do is accessible through gui. it's just a matter of being open to change.

Some distros are surprisingly accessible to be honest. And with the enshitification of windows people will be very tempted or pushed to make step to Linux. And when the crossover point is there is can go really quickly. More an more companies are deciding that the cost of Microsoft alone is worth the migration. Exposing even more people to Linux. My biggest barrier is that some online games won't run on Linux but if that changes then why not.