Well I just came back to Ubuntu (Hardy) after a five month absence, and I must say two things: lots of stuff has been fixed (or at least improved), and I really, really missed my Ubuntu.
The video playback is now almost to par with Windows quality, though it's still a little grainy (any recommendations on a movie player? I use the default), and the video in Firefox still gets screwy if you try to watch it while having Rhythmbox or Movie Player open...but that's OK. It's free, so it's not going to be perfect.
Anyway, my point wasn't to complain, it was to express a vast sigh of relief. I realized while poking along on Windows XP that the reasons I'd left Ubuntu behind - video games, primarily, but also the video issue - weren't as important to me now, and it was nice to know that Ubuntu would still be there, waiting for me to reinstall. Sure, the installer threw an error when I tried to split the hard drive between Windows and Ubuntu, but again, no worries...I just wiped the whole drive and gave it all to Ubuntu.
So I'm back, and I'm happy to see that a lot of the little, annoying problems have been fixed. Still video driver issues, of course, but those will likely never be fixed, so no worries.
Now if I could remember how to permanently switch Compiz for Metacity, I'd be set.
Anyhoo...great to be back. Glad this distro is still around. :)