Yeah, but switching from IE to Chrome didn't lose me the ability to visit 85% of the sites on the web. Not to mention the fact that I had a reason to switch, Chrome/Firefox have clear advantages over IE, there are no such advantages with SteamOS. Basically because of Gabe's dislike of Microsoft they are creating a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, and are asking gamers to join them to their own detriment. Getting past all the hype and Valve golden boy nonsense, what are the scenarios?
1) Gamers jump ship from Microsoft, lose the ability to play most of their games over the next few years, and eventually, down the road parity is achieved between the two OS'es in terms of total games available. Years of hardship followed by gaming as we know it now, only with a different overlord.
2) Gamers do nothing, keep the ability to play all of their games, both now and in the future, and down the road they keep playing games as usual. This isn't what Valve wants, but why do I care what Valve wants?
What's the up side for the average gamer? The only way this whole deal becomes even remotely advantageous to gamers is if this nightmare fear-mongering scenario #3 where Microsoft goes crazy and ruins gaming comes to fruition. Frankly, I'm not buying it. The only people who have anything to fear from Microsoft are it's competitors, not the gamers. And considering the near monopoly Valve has on the digital market, how is giving them license to do the same thing they are claiming Microsoft is going to do any better?