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I personally know 8 people who got started with Linux by trying Ubuntu a few years ago. Three of those people became developers. Only one still uses Ubuntu. But if it wasn't for Ubuntu, none of those would have happened.

It might be indirect, but Cannonical has done a huge amount for Linux. The idea that they're stealing potential users from 'traditional' distributions just doesn't translate to reality.

Even in my small example, none of those who started with Ubuntu stayed exclusively with Ubuntu. As soon as you jump to Ubuntu you quickly realise how diverse the Linux ecosystem is. It's also widely marketed and understood as a 'beginners' OS so everyone who wants to go further and experiment with other distros because there's a sense that a lot exciting stuff happens elsewhere. Ubuntu is like a gateway drug to Linux and it does that very well.

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