``Linux is like Unix, it requires you to memorize all these cryptic commands and type them at a command line to do any little thing.''
This is ironic, coming from people who were espousing the superiority of the C: prompt over the Macintosh user interface only a few years prior!
In any event, this is a case of FUD#1, Exaggeration. While using a Linux system is currently more difficult than using a Windows system, few Linux workstations run in command line mode anymore. All current Linux releases come with the ``X'' window system. Even with ``X'' Linux is more difficult to use than Windows, but that difficulty can be masked by using a desktop like the ``K'' Desktop Environment ( http://www.kde.org ). An IS department can set up a pre-defined desktop for all of their users so that all of their users' applications can be invoked via point-and-click operations.
Point out that ease of remote administration means that users do not need to administer their systems, which is about the only time they'd ever need to see a command prompt (since you have to ``su'' to root first in order to administer current Linux systems).
Also point out that Linux is not intended for use by naive home users, but rather as a mission-critical server and workstation OS where there are trained IS professionals available to handle support issues.