The web is but one example of a whole new market, which no single entity seems to control, and where diversity is viewed as an asset. Diversity and power are our strengths- lets stick with what we've been good at and what we enjoy. We're better off concentrating on our strengths. Infrastructure and server applications are what Unix and Linux have always been good at. The embedded and portable devices leverage our historical affinity for focused component ware in a growing area where we have the upper hand on expertise and flexibility.
Server applications challenge our technical and managerial expertise.
They are enjoyable applications to write and are more interesting to support than say, Microsoft Word. Unix savvy people are good at combining and modifying existing server applications to do something something new . We can take advantage of our own tools with systems like PHP that build on or enhance existing software. Fortunately, Microsoft isn't any good at writing or promoting these applications either. Their closed source and obfuscated protocols actively discourage innovation.