This isn't a reflection on its state now, but I'm trying to make the point that good software takes time. They've had 13 years to clean it up now, and evidently it's gotten a lot better. But that's worth remembering when judging the crap software that's come out in the last couple years.

Linux printing also used to absolutely suck, so much that CUPS was generally synonymous with the hassles you (used to) need to go through to do practical work with a Linux system. Ubuntu has been an absolute godsend in terms of getting a stable, productive Linux desktop working.