[justin66]

> how else can a machine in a datacenter put a GUI on an end user's screen today?

A lot of companies are doing it with Citrix. That's a framework which provides Windows users with what 99% of the Unix users asking for X network transparency are really asking for: the ability to run an app or optionally an entire desktop on the server and have it render locally, where it can be used and controlled. There are some optional file sharing things as well, and audio, etc.

I'm sure the network protocols underneath are appalling, but the product does what people want.