Actually, the primary application of Linux is embedded software. I can see four embedded Linux machines from my sofa (my Blu-Ray players, my TV and my Web cam).
Obviously we'll never know, due to the inherent nature of linux (i.e. no licensing counts !).
However I suspect you are probably wrong there. Think about all the data centres around the world that power your embedded devices, the websites you peruse, and the emails you receive ..... crammed full of physical boxes that in all likelihood are running a version of Linux, and no doubt a large handful of virtual machines shoved onto each of the physical boxes. Add onto the datacentre use, all the individual uses at business premises and you see what I'm getting at....
Embedded use may be growing, but I don't think it has surpassed server use by any means. The embedded use may be geographically spread out, but don't underestimate the high-density use you see in the server world....
Android is just a GUI implemented on top of Linux, and the hundreds of millions of Android users seem to do OK with it.
I think you well know you are clutching at straws there. You cannot compare a desktop OS to Android.
Android is just a GUI implemented on top of Linux, and the hundreds of millions of Android users seem to do OK with it.
There are lots of reasons why Linux is not widespread on the desktop. Mine was one of them, yours is another...we could probably easily name a top 10 list of reasons why Linux is not yet ready for the desktop.