Open Source is about empowering you as the computer user. While if you use Open Source technologies you do not need to know anything about computer programing; if you did know something about computer programing you would be able to do more with the programs than you would if you were using some other commercial brand.
Perhaps the most important detail is that were you running a Linux operating system the odds are you would of paid nothing to do exactly what others would do on a Windows or Mac system. The Open Source philosophy is that software is public domain. As it can be used to help and enrich the lives of others it would be morally reprehensible to withhold it from people or make a profit from it.
One argument made against Open Source in favour of commercial products is that the commercial products are better tested and offer better tech support. Firstly, Open Source software is by far better tested. All around the world there are computer programmers downloading the latest software versions, running them and testing them and when a problem is found it is solved and the newer better version is put on the web free of charge for all. For this reason there is often no need for any tech support. If you needed any you could get it off the net or from the help files and manuals that accompany the free software that will instruct you to make repairs yourself.
Mandrake, Redhat and Debian can all be downloaded off the net and installed on your machine today without any problems as long as you are able to read and follow the help files. Typing help will almost certainly lead you to the solution. any idiot can learn in one afternoon how to install Linux and trouble shoot. Can the same be said for Windows? If there is a problem can you fix it? Linux generally never crashes. It takes a lot to crash a Linux system.
The biggest problem in switching from Windows to Linux is that you may have to learn a new basic computer language to communicate with your computer. Point-and-click options are still there with Mandrake et al but to fully use your computer you will have to learn some basic commands. Again, there is adequate help on the computer itself.
With Open Source you are not reliant on big companies for software and tech support, you can do everything yourself because Open Source empowers you to take control of your computer.