Workplaces are all about the apps. If those apps you need only run in Windows, that's what you run. Believe me, businesses would LOVE to cut license costs.
Been a Linux user for 20+ years but windows WAS my daily driver the last 5 of themโฆ got fed up with all the ads and plans for the screen recording and pulled the plug. Linux 100% for me again!
I was getting a couple of pop up ads in my Win10 install, and I switched a couple of months ago. The more I looked at gaming, the more I realized it could be done.
I play a fair bit too. (That's why I'm here.) People tend to underestimate the selection of games for Linux, always mentioning stuff like Tux Race and the likes. Even before Proton, you could run a lot of stuff; for example I got Cult of the Lamb, Celeste and Cuphead here, those aren't exactly "old" games (although not exactly fresh either - I'm a patient player).
Minecraft is the exception that proves the rule - Microsoft likely did try to pull off the plug of OS X and Linux support, in a user-hostile move, but it failed due to its popularity.
Minecraft has two main versions:
the Java version. Desktop-wise available for Linux, OS X, and Windows. Predates Microsoft buying Mojang (Minecraft's developer studio). That's likely the version played by the people whom you're referring to.
the Bedrock version. Coded in C++, and desktop-wise available only for Windows. Created after the acquisition of the studio.
Odds are that, when Microsoft funded the Bedrock version, it assumed that every Windows player would adopt it instead of the Java version, because it does perform far better. But there's a catch - Bedrock cannot be modded (modified by the user with third party code), only the Java version can, and the modding scene for Minecraft is huge. So if Microsoft pulled off the plug of the Java version, a lot of people would leave, in special adult and teen players; and once they're gone people aren't introducing the game to young children any more.
Now, on why Java Minecraft runs better in Linux: I have no idea. It might be the mods themselves running better in Linux, as a lot of modders are Linux users.
Yup, I used to use FreeBSD and it worked okay. When I used it, the Nvidia drivers were better than AMD, but I don't know if the FOSS AMD drivers have been ported to FreeBSD.
You can theoretically run Linux programs (such as Steam) on the BSDs. And I am pretty sure that there are some open source games on BSD too. Only tried it a few times tho.
Edit: and there's a WINE version for FreeBSD aswell.
At this rate by 2038 windows will be at 50% market share and by 2069 it'll be at 0%.
Mac is at ~20% and quite well known already, so maybe 20% is the market share where even commoners (non-tech folk) will know of linux and use it. Still have a ways to go folks...