I know that linux is just the kernel but I was refering to the complete distro as linux. Anyway, I personal do love the fact that I have choices with linux that is the reason I use it. I don't use it because its free I use it because of all the choices I have with it and that I can tweak every little thing about it. But the basic file structure in my mind really should be the same. All distros should have everything put in the same place. As for package management I really don't care personally about having a standard but if we want Linux to be adopted then it would be something that would need to be standardized. I personally stick with the distro I think has the best Package Manager and for me that is anything with the Ports system like Gentoo and BSD. I think that if we had a standard on the file structure then there wouldn't need to be a standard on package management but atleast that way each company could create there own installer and atleast know where that distro like files put.
@King, No problem, just try and keep it clean.
edit: I can't see apple ever opening MacOSX up to all pc's, mostly because Apple is still first and foremost a Hardware company, and not a software company.