Many of us have heard of GNU/Linux. It is secure, some experts proclaim, untouchable by viruses and malware; it is free, say some economists, so you don't need to pay for it; it is easy to use, powerful, and fun, tout some advocates. However, in this mix, too often do we forget the most important benefit of GNU/Linux. It is the reason of the unparalleled security, extremely low cost, ease of using, power, performance, fun, and everything in between. It is liberty (I will use this term here to avoid the whole business of "free" speech vs. "free" beer).
Let's pause for a moment, and imagine you are going to have a new house. Now, you have two options: either you will design the house yourself, or you will have someone else do that for you. Of course, by "design by yourself," I mean "with help if necessary." Which one would you prefer?
When you choose a predesigned house, it will be more beautiful. After all, professional designers and artists are paid a fortune to do that job. Maybe when you see it for the first time, it is so impressive that you would buy it immediately. When your friends come over, they will be thrilled by how pretty the house is, how every single details are designed to capture the attention of the observers. Sounds good?
However, in the end of the day, it is only another house. You have no more attachment to it than the money you spend to buy it. Furthermore, being built before knowing its future owner, the house is designed to satisfy as many people as possible. Thus, you may find many details that don't really work for you. Remember, in daily life, the details matters more than the face. Lastly, as beautiful as the house is, it is not unique. You cannot have the house designed just for you, so your neighbors will have exactly the same house. Beautiful, but common.
Now, imagine you design your own house. True, it's not the most beautiful in the world, but it's yours, truly. You know who you are, you know your need (maybe with some advice from the builder), and what you want. Your house may not be as pretty as your friend's, but it is unique. Furthermore, it is comfortable: it is built to solve your problems, your needs, your dreams, not someone else's.
The liberty to design your own things is always pleasurable. It is why people change the wheels of their cars, or repaint them, or eleborate their houses, or work on their own things. Furthermore, the very work that you spend on your product makes it extremely valuable. Imagine your friend send you a normal greeting card; now, imagine that card is hand-made by that friend. See the different?
This liberty is precisely what GNU/Linux brings to you. True, to set up a GNU/Linux system may not be the easiest thing in the world. True, you have too many decisions to make. True, your interface may not be the most flashy interface out there. True, it takes time to learn and understand your computer. However, you know what, in the end of the day, GNU/Linux is your PC, personal computer. Something you personally designed, put together, and grew to meet your needs. It is a place that you truly call "home."
Of course, sometimes, it is infeasible to do everything for yourself. That's why we live in a society, where everyone specializes in something. However, that does not mean you must give up your liberty, does it? Most things in this world have a gradual scales. That is another thing GNU/Linux offers. You design your own system, alright, but you don't build it from scratch. No, you don't need to. Many many blocks have been built for you already. All you need to do is to put those blocks together. Found some blocks you don't like? Throw it away, take another. No satisfying block? Well, build one yourself, although I suspect if you really need to do that. The best thing about all this business is that there are many many possible blocks, always more than one needs. And, there is no monolithic "solution" or big block: everything, from kernel modules up to applications, can be exchanged, modified, changed as much as you desire, as little as you need.
And thus, GNU/Linux brings you the perfect software liberty. You can design your own system, but you can bypass a lot of steps. Of course, all liberty comes with a cost: you own effort. Liberty is not free, but it sure is fun, productive, and personal.
One weird thing I notice in today world is that liberty has become a cliche. Everyone talks about it, argues how it is important and how one desires it. However, most people just give up their liberty from some flashy, showing-off little things. "Why use GNU/Linux," ask many people, "you have to choose, you have to work, you have to learn." "Use this (Windows) or that (Macintosh), you don't need to choose: someone else chooses for you; you don't need choice, you don't need liberty; see, you can show off this and that visual effects!" Myself, I rather choose liberty, the right to configure my software as I please, use it as I please, change and add new components as I please. Yeah, I must work and learn, but you know what, it's fun!