"I see no improvement with Hardy, nor any interest in future developments."
I wouldn't say that quite. As linux use becomes more widespread so
more manufacturers will support it. e.g. Xerox have started to support
printers for linux... yet none of their scanners so far. Which i was
annoyed about as i've just picked up a second hand machine that came
with a Xerox scanner.

If one looks at how linux has developed in just the last two years...
another couple of years and i think we'll see a very different
picture. I use ubuntu as i admire Mark Shuttleworth for what he has
done for the linux community and i think he'll achieve his aim.