>The main reason Linux desktop is dead is because Linux desktop developers treat it like the latest fashion fad instead of a commercial product you have to live off and be responsible for.
Xscreensaver is a thing and you can use it.
It's no secret that ubuntu's desktop has been a basket case, but it's not the only available option even with ubuntu - let alone on linux. kubuntu is fine, and xubuntu is awesome (neither of which use this screensaver).
The reason why the linux desktop never took off was because microsoft used its not insignificant market power to squash it each time it was about to take off.
Not because of a silly screensaver that got rewritten.
The linux desktop never took off because of petty things like rewriting the screensaver every few years, while letting things users care about, like backwards compatibility, incremental change, etc, all get in the way. I gave up on the linux desktop because every other version seemed to be a jarring change along the lines of windows 7 to windows 8. After a while, one gets tired of having to relearn things and just wants a system that works.
I think you're giving Microsoft too much credit. Linux on the desktop failed for a lot of reasons. Major fragmentation and lack of focus are some major ones.
Xscreensaver is a thing and you can use it.
It's no secret that ubuntu's desktop has been a basket case, but it's not the only available option even with ubuntu - let alone on linux. kubuntu is fine, and xubuntu is awesome (neither of which use this screensaver).
The reason why the linux desktop never took off was because microsoft used its not insignificant market power to squash it each time it was about to take off.
Not because of a silly screensaver that got rewritten.