I've been using Linux for six years, and I've seen the Linux desktop mature in amazing leaps and bounds.  It's maturing so fast, that in any given month, I often see maturation for core parts of the overall product. 

For some perspective, when I first started using Linux, you had to manually run a command to mount your CD.  You had to run another command to unmount the CD when you were finished with it, and a third to eject it.  In that order, exactly, or it would fail.  Often you had to reboot just to get the disk out of the tray. 

Luckily, this is a part of the Linux history books.  This is one example, and I could talk to more examples throughout Linux.  Yet, with all this improvement, criticisms of Linux are no less. 

I assert, the "Complaint Curve" for technology is a steady, straight line, despite the improvements to a product.  As a technology becomes more mature, more people are adopt it, and therefor, there are more people to complain even if there may be less to complain about. 

I think this holds true, unless disproportionate force is used to force adoption.  Microsoft Vista is a good example.  Vista's adoption curve was unnatural, and the result was a huge spiked complaint curve that Microsoft ultimately paid a reputation hit for.  The tragically mis-identified KDE 4.0, an alpha wolf in release sheep's clothing, whose adoption was caused by its predecessor's good name, might be a good example in the open source world.

Why is this a useful observation?  I think it is important for technology development teams to understand.  I've seen projects lose heart because of the continued criticism.  Despite their hard fought efforts to overcome users' criticisms, the complaints keep coming.  The developers feel they are fighting a losing battle, and eventually lose interest in the project.

Try to keep up the good work, anyway guys & gals.  I love what you do.