The reasons for this situation are several at more than one location.
The overview is to remotely install Linux on computers owned by non tool users, zero skills presumed of them.
What I am seeking is several methods for making the process just plain work. Initial customer is my mother in Berkeley, and her social groups may join in. The minimal cold start scene will be a Knoppix or Damn small tested computer and net connection. The defined factors are: DSL or cable modem set up as DHCP. Hardware approx 2000 or newer. Working OS of XP or installed Knoppix or both.in most cases. Very Few sites with no OS. Internal HD swaps are a non starter as most of these folks are non tool using mundanes. The rest of the story is they almost all are politically or socially desiring to use Linux.by choice! With a few skeptics that "want to be shown"-more about the net than Linux as they still use TYPEWRITERS! And they often have little to no computer skills to unlearn. Short of my doing some major frequent flier miles tripping,KCLUG may be their salvation.
"Someone is going to do it- why not us?"