That's how I've found Ubuntu to be in the main, and I've several users
who also have no need to ever see the command line in everyday use. So
in that respect Ubuntu has succeeded IMHO :-) Command line is still
there for the advanced user and even Windows can still need this for
fixing it when it goes awry so no real difference there either.

I suspect that the main difference is that Ubuntu isn't afraid of the
command line when it makes sense to use it over a GUI whereas Windows
does everything it can to try and avoid command line ( not always in a
successful way ). So Windows users migrating to Ubuntu can find that
they are directed to command line more readily when the GUI method is
either not implemented or not flexible enough - when all is said and
done Ubuntu is *not* Windows and never will be, but herein lies its
strength, not weakness.

Again, for most users they'll never have the need to know there is a
command line at all :-)

Perhaps we cannot take the experiences of the forum regarding command
line as an indicator to it overall - by definition, it will mainly be
those have issues with Ubuntu that join and those using it without any
problem won't be looking for help ? So command line is bound to be
more prevalent in these pages ?

MB> Not saying there shouldn't be a command prompt but you'd think at
MB> this stage in the game making command line tweaks to the OS would
MB> be the exception rather than the rule.