What Made You Switch to Linux?

What made me to start thinking about an alternative to Windows is this: I don't really like the idea of using pirated software (but when you are in Nigeria I wonder what you can do).  Also I was getting scared at times, asking what would happen to windows if and when Bill Gates dies?

So share, tell us what made you switch to Linux?

Software piracy is a major issue in Nigeria. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can really do about it, as this is a developing country and the amount of money an average person earns is not enough to afford original software. Of course, there's also the Nigerian mentality that since it can be got for N200 (current price now, I guess), why should the individual pay over N20,000?

Anyway, I switched to Linux because I wanted to try something new and different. I had read about it in different articles before I actually got to try it out. I was really interested in using a UNIX-style system and such.

Now, I use Windows primarily for gaming and surfing the web. Linux for programming, other development purposes and multimedia

I still use windows on desktop machines however usually *nix is installed on servers I configure (unless of course I need to be running an applications server )