>* Why can't they just offer instructions on how to get drivers working
  >properly?

They will probably do this too, but you have to understand a couple of things.

(1) First, many customers do not want to "fiddle" with their purchases.  They want to open the box, fill in their name, etc. and work (or play).
(2) Secondly, it is one thing if you want to "fiddle" with one laptop you purchased, it is another thing if you have to "fiddle" with hundreds that you purchased for your company. (See Figure 1)
(3) Stores want to have laptops on display.  WE want to have GNU/Linux laptops on display.  Stores do NOT want to have to "fiddle" with the laptop just to show GNU/Linux working.  If the stores (particularly big box stores) have to "fiddle" THEY WILL NOT SHOW GNU/LINUX.
(4) Computers "need" to ship with some OS on them.  If GNU/Linux is not installed it will be MS (BSD?  In your dreams.  Nothing against BSD, but the numbers of units do not work).  If MS is on there, the manufacturers and stores and customers will pay an MS "tax".

>* Will their "special" linux have all the bloatware that theiw Windows
 > installs have?  Yuck!

That "bloatware" makes your laptop less expensive.   The bloatware companies pay to have that bloatware on there.  If it was not there, the laptops would cost more.

 "rm" works.  Use it.

md