Inaky Perez Gonzalez announced the beginning of the Linux USB project. This effort was eventually abandoned after Linus created a USB implementation of his own, but not before it had made considerable progress and influenced the ultimate shape of Linux USB support. I've become convinced that the term has to go. If there's money, there may be software. If not, I don't believe there will.
Great programmers cost a lot of money.
That's pretty hard to work around. I don't think the Linux people really get that yet. To potential investors, in my opinion Linux would be a good bet, but not with the GPL assumption. It will do well if money is available, both from investors and eventually from customers. LWN called for distributors to get security updates out within 24 hours of the announcement of a vulnerability.