It is a start. The thing is, that most people won't care about the technical aspect of Linux, they just want it to work. Also, there are many problems with Linux and standards. No one adopts standards across the board. All the distros do try to make some things standard but it doesn't always happen that way. For example, debian distros, like ubuntu (the one you picked) don't use RPMs, they use DEBs instead. Well, since redhat linux made the huge jump in the begining most software developers package their applications in RPM files. Then, you have a distro that will have like 5 package managers in it, wtf is up with that?
I think if you really want to show how linux is superior (it is in some ways) you should explain how the kernel works, how to use the shell to communicate with the kernel (that right there is a big security step) and how the gui is basically a graphical mask for the shell. The thing about Unix/Linux that also makes it so secure and stable is that each time you load it on a machine you get a customized kernel installed for that hardware configuration, and it does not allow the rest of the OS access to the hardware. It must communicate to it via the shell. This allows you to set up permissions. Letting some services run as root and others as wheel, admin, user, etc.
Explain the file systems, and the directory structre otherwise know as the "tree". There is no C drive in linux, instead it starts at the / which is considered the root of the drive. Devices are mounted under /dev directory and assigned a node, like /dev/hda0, /dev/hda1 or /dev/hda, /dev/hdb, or /dev/sda, /dev/sdb. Each distro is different (this is where it can get annoying). Under the tree you also have /etc (houses most config files), /boot (holds boot up information, loader etc), /var (this holds all the logs), /bin (holds commands and app data), /usr (applications, commands, etc), /sbin (other commands), /opt (depends, I have seen applications and commands go here, but usually third party), /home (houses your home directories), so on and so forth.
The terminal, so handy and so scary to people at the same time. Lots of people just want a GUI. Understandable IMO, I mean a lot of times I just want a GUI as well. Especially when a distro decides to change the standard useage of BASH commands, it can get annoying. Perhaps having some basic tutorials on how to use that would also help plead your case. Education to the user would be the first step of them not fearing it.
Advanced useage - once you get to know Linux you can start shell scripting. A very powerful way to automate tasks. Are you a web developer? Do you hate typing in mudane code? You can automate basic HTML pages with shell scripting. You can do lots of things with the BASH commands.
Also, always list the cons so you don't sound like a biased fan boy. Obviously there are some things holding Linux back from being a main stream OS. Overall, learning what Linux can really do will take time. I still learn stuff as I go and have been using it for years.
Like I said though, its a good start. Just don't write fluff fan boy articles about how linux rules, those are a dime a dozen. Make an objective effort to be unbiased and truly show how Linux can be a very powerful user desktop OS.
