
Personally, i am somewhat new to CentOS (but not to Linux). I remember the old days (not really that long ago), before YUM. well, rather before i knew about YUM anyway. I started with Mandrake Linux (Kernel 2.12 i think), and i remember compiling from source, or using RPM directly, and having to spend hours researching dependencies.
Now that i am running CentOS, i am extremely happy with the stability (with the exceptions from me changing stuff), and ease of use. especially where SSH is allowed from a fresh install. i remember having to work on my hobby server directly for a while before i could connect remotely to finish configuration. I am very happy that i can just complete an install, then grab my laptop, sit in my favorite chair, and work comfortably.

Linux seems to have come a long way since the late 90s, to early 2K.
~Travis