GNU is not really relevant, except may be to say that free software philosophy can't build something for the mass market, since it takes money to pay workers to slave away for the benefit of the plebes.
The UI layers (GNOME/KDE/Canonical) may be relevant. Linux desktop doesn't have a giant company funding massive ad campaigns and retail outlets and spit-and-polish and OEM integration, and all that is needed to launch a successful product for the mass market.
Linux desktop is very successful in the developer workstation and server markets, where the users are more tech savvy.
The UI layers (GNOME/KDE/Canonical) may be relevant. Linux desktop doesn't have a giant company funding massive ad campaigns and retail outlets and spit-and-polish and OEM integration, and all that is needed to launch a successful product for the mass market.
Linux desktop is very successful in the developer workstation and server markets, where the users are more tech savvy.