The only problem with Linux is that the users do not read the errors that are spit back to the terminal. Failed dependancies on installation, required lib packages, paths not set. There is a lot of variables to this than the packages just not working. you can try things like strace on the failed part to see what it did last before it puked. Or the ldd command to see if all the lib. dependacies are found.
And I have never seen an installation of a package go half way and then crap out. Usually the problems occur when you do a configure or a make. Not during the make install. When you are doing a make all the files are stored locally in that directory where you did the make. And a "make clean" will remove them for you.
I use Linux heavily both here at work and at home on several machines, when I run into problems the quickest way to solve them to read some documentation. And you know you can't say you have read the documentation or else you wouldn't have these problems.
