I strongly feel the only reasons Linux is actually gaining traction right now are
A) proton/wine getting good enough interfaces for regular people to start using them (steam, heroic, hopefully bottles someday gets easier to use)
B) KDE making strides with their desktop envoronment.
C) flatpaks being easy to use and fairly reliable once someone learns to prioritize them
All still have a LOT of work to do with UX, but they are close enough to good that its less of a hurdle for new people to pick them up.
I don't know the exact scenario being referenced above, but personally I don't believe in the death penalty for anything. I truly believe people can change and be reformed. Not that everyone will, but everyone can be. Death robs of any opportunity or hope.
I also understand there is a lot of nuance around this conversation. I don't judge anyone for believing differently, as long as its for good reasons.