They try to be, but in the end if you do something the distro maker hasn't thought of then you'll still dive into the command line with an editor and edit some files in /etc

I can only think that you haven't much experience of modern Linux distros. They are very easy to set up and configure.

I have actually, and they're all still pretty poor. There's a reason why the joke of 'this is the year of the Linux desktop' persists every year.

Where does somebody who wants to setup a small workgroup server buy a Linux server anyway? I've never seen them in the shops.

If you require RAID arrays, multiple network cards, redundant power supplies etc. then this little server really isn't close to what you want.

The desktop version of Snow Leopard can be configured to do nearly everything you want from the server version. However it requires a fair amount of knowledge to do it on the cheap. That knowledge doesn't come cheap for most professionals. They'd rather be out earning money doing what they do best than fiddling with config files in /etc

Who needs a commercial Unix OS?

you'll still dive into the command line with an editor and edit some files in /etc

...as you have to do with OS X occasionally. Try adding a persistent static route, for example.

If you require RAID arrays, multiple network cards, redundant power supplies etc. then this little server really isn't close to what you want.

Something we can agree on.

You're right that not many retail shops will sell you a computer with Linux pre-installed (although plenty of independents will as will a number of on-line retailers). But not too many business users buy their servers from PC World. Not many shops will sell you a server at all.

Whatever, each to their own. I wouldn't use a Mac Mini as a server in a business (if I wanted to keep my job), but if others feel it is useful then fine. I guess the sales figures for Mac Mini servers, or OS X servers in general would tell the truth. But Apple tend to be a little reticent to divulge that sort of information.