I think the virus thing should be dropped and we only have a positive message. Too much mud slinging this time of year. :-)
I agree. It takes more patience to advocate Linux in a positive light only, but in the end:
1. Linux is attractive to people who are patient.
2. Linux is unattractive to people who are impatient. (Are you sure you want to cater to the whole Windows userbase? Why not simply harvest the more patient ones?)
3. Linux will be associated with a continually positive message, not fear, uncertainty, and doubt like others. (I.e. we recognize FUD when we see it, but we do not propogate it.)
4. People who like to contend will have nothing to contend against but themselves, and Linux will quietly watch its adversaries beat each other up as they all learn how to be . . . quiet and patient, like Linux.
Let the binary "We're better than you" message remain in the hands of those who like to contend.
Linux is not "better"; that's a competitive marketing term, and Linux is built by and for engineers, not marketers.
Engineers are patient, know quality when they see it, and need no marketing to convince them.
In short, let the "Linux viruses" thread be a quiet gift given to people who actually adopt Linux. Keep it in the unwritten portion of the Jedi manual, so we stay away from the dark side. :-)
-Jared