I agree with you, Gamer. What I want is a functional, responsive OS.
However, graphical enhancing sytems (?) like Beryl and Compiz (and Vista) are gaining popularity. I see a bunch of people with that stuff installed all the time. Ugh. Wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Ubuntu now brings compiz by default too - I'm thinking of switching to Debian... I'm worried about an OS that brings that kind of thing by default.
Also, programming an OS must be really interesting, especially from an educational point of view. I've always rather enjoyed most of the low-level stuff the university throws at me
I do wish you the best of luck.
(I'm being nicer because I actually got 10h of sleep today, unlike the 5h average I've been on
)