It has nothing to do with being an evil empire and all to do with being evil. It doesn't matter if they're ruling or dying. Just because they're not alone in sucking badly doesn't mean they don't, and if we need Microsoft of all companies to provide an "alternative", that's an argument against the current situation; not for Microsoft.
That said, the word "hacker" has so many definitions it's completely useless anyway, it describes nothing. So don't take this as an agreement with the post you replied to, I would have said "people with dignity" instead of "hacker" haha.
In my books, lack of vowels is the real deal breaker.
Whether that alternative will actually take off is highly questionable but more choice is better for consumers and hackers alike.
[1] For one thing Steve Ballmer seems too incompetent to make an effective villain.