Some (most) hardware component manufacturers chose not to release their driver code open source, and instead release binary blobs under copyright etc. Including such encumbered code in Linux kernel itself is simply not an option. I would just stop worrying and stick to Windows if you don't agree, Linux is not for everyone.

The question I have is how come we only have 2 viable choices, hoping that Ubuntu can sort out its FOSS offering as I'd love another proper nix mobile OS on my phone.

@jrocketfingers I'm on the lookout ;)

Seriously jealous, congratulations. I miss my i3 every day.

So before the days of --no-preserve-root?

I use a Mac at work and Linux at home. I am 10x more productive on Linux.