I have only recently started using linux as a desktop. I used MAC OSX for over ten years, before that windows,dos,amiga,atari st. Whoops my age is showing

There is nothing wrong with all those systems they all have there issues. With windows great support for emulation but the cost of the OS itself for every mame cab I build isnt nice. Linux is free, but not as well supported and fragmented, meaning there different installers for different flavors of linux libaries etc. For me it's the thing that holds linux back. There should be a universal installer. MAC OSX is a great system unix based and very friendly. I ran it on a PC for 5 years.
We all use mame on whatever system we feel comfortable with, OS flame wars are silly so glad there's none of that here. For me if I want to build several mame cabs Linux is the most cost effective. Just my 2 cents AUD.