I hate the Ubuntu scroll bars, and Unity is the Devil incarnate!

Then use another environment or distro, xubuntu or mate or any other flavor. You can make linux be anything you want it to be.

Back in 1994 I would download each kernel version over a 56k modem and lovingly configure and compile it.

I love Ubuntu as a server OS, because the bullshit per mile is mimimal.

I use Windows as a desktop OS because I don't want to waste time configuring and reconfiguring everything -- I have some real work to get done.

I totally agree and configuring linux can be very time consuming, but there are a lot of distros available that do not require any configuration. Generally installing and getting going with Ubunutu (or a flavor of it) is faster and easier than dealing with windows and device drivers. I don't think that justifies a reason to not use linux or at least try it to see if you do like it.

I have tried it. I use it all the time on the server.

My experience with Windows 7+ is that device drivers "just work" for the most part.