Is the Microsoft vs. LINUX war stalled?

Are large IT departments shifting their support back to Microsoft?

Last night I received a call from a friend, a CFO at a large multinational.  Seems that his ears are burning from the debates between the CIO shop favoring consolidation on a few Microsoft platforms and the CTO shop recommendations to continue to build out their Linux investments.

To acquaint yourself quickly with the MSFT vs. LINUX battle just click on Microsoft vs. Linux War search.

As you will see, there is plenty of material for both sides to fight with.  Lots of Linux positives, including the support of many rapidly developing countries (China, India, Brazil, etc.) and their governments showing strong support.  You also have articles like that at the NewScientest.com talking about some surprising positive results backing Microsoft in its article on which OS is safer?

After the huge Linux push over the last 5 years, why is Microsoft gaining back some ground amongst IT departments?

1. Linux isn't perfect! As more and more Linux installations occur, the "Linux-I'm a Bigger Geek! complex" hasn't been able to silence the news of its weaknesses, complexity/fragmentation between all the variants, and their vulnerabilities.  Frankly, I'm tired of wanna be uber-Geeks kicking Microsoft products blindly has some sort of badge of honor, as if Linux is perfect.  For most of us, the Microsoft products work pretty much as advertised and have the same weaknesses that the entire software industry is known for.
2. Is Linux really cheaper? The Linux license costs are definitely cheaper, but support costs are growing.  In general an expert in Linux can probably get 25-40% more than the hordes of MCSE holders out there.  Not just that, but a company has to be aware of its Linux-personnel leaving, getting a replacement at the same cost, quickly, and with hands-on experience in the same flavor of Linux isn't as simple as finding an MCSE holder or Microsoft Exchange professional.  If a corporation really has a problem they can always call on Microsoft's consulting group. Maybe the positive reception Linux has had from developing nations is that the cost of skilled labor in these countries is relatively cheap so developing and maintaining an abundance of expertise internally is viable.
3. Microsoft will do just about anything to remain a viable alternative on any large IT project or bid. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Microsoft personnel in Canada, the USA and Australia. Let me tell you, these people always work hard, are brighter than most, and you can call on them day and night.  They will also appear to do anything to keep from losing a sale! I am not sure if some of the AE's and Product Managers I have met are awarded for revenues and margins, or market share.   I have also worked with HP, Compaq and SUN on Linux projects, but when push comes to shove on a side by side comparison if you tell the Microsoft team what numbers they need to hit, they will meet them.  I have seen Microsoft take 80% off what they said was their best bulk license pricing, plus they'll throw in hands-on support like crazy to keep everyone happy (including feeding their business through a reseller).  As a business manager, you've got to like a professional partner that always wants to win and is on your side!
4. The old Cover Your Ass story! In the IT departments that I have had to manage, I have been lucky that this really never appeared to be a major issue; but I got to think in a more sink-or-swim environment that IT departments are OK managing the politics of Microsoft vulnerabilities.  No one is immune to them.  Yet on the Linux front, it was the IT groups who pushed and pushed for migrations strategies to move to Linux and open standards platforms.  So when the CEO hears of the billing system shutting down, a call center offline, or has email missing (or worse spamming his or her address book), who are they going to call on? And how much wiggle room is the IT department going to get to justify the failure?

As a technology-aware business person, I couldn't help but think that their own words are coming  back to haunt the LINUX soldiers.  They continue to show more success than just about anyone expected, but the story is getting old and buyers are getting smarter to look at the whole picture.  What are your thoughts on this battle?

UPDATE:  Via Slashdot and ZDnet I just saw a couple of relevant postings on this very topic:

 Study Shows that Microsoft vs. Linux Costs are Neck and Neck, in the Yankee Group study "88 percent of respondents said that the quality, performance and reliability of Windows was equal to or better than Linux." Interestingly, the study goes on to say that Microsoft's security rating by respondants doubled to 7.6 (out of 10) in a year, while Linux remained flat at 8.3.

Yankee Group Slams Linux Extremists. I doubt if a company spends its budget supporting extremist thinking, but there has been a definite bias; as I mentioned in point #1 above.