You absolutely can use Linux. I just recall from my FPGA days, Windows was the easiest way to get going for hobbyist FPGA work. If running Linux is what matters to you, run Linux. If developing for an FPGA is what matters to you, do what is easiest to get you there, IMO.

I don't care what people use, but this community tends to get lost in, 'well it's got to be open source...' and whole productive lines of inquiry get totally derailed.