I can run Linux as a Virtual PC in Vista or WinXP, too, so a lot of the "Linux stuff" is working there, too ...
But Emulator attachements aren't really an alternative for me ...
I like to use an application in a OS it's made for - examples like Pixar with Renderman aren't really surprising, using Linux OS - they for sure use it most likely on Linux because it's more safe in Networks, because not overrun by millions and millions of users all over the world ... but since i'm a private user, i don't need to keep my non-existing multi-million dollar tricks and work a secret ...

At the end it's all up to the individual user, what they have running. Advices are nice, but for sure are a lot subjective driven and won't work as overall solutions - i gave only my opinion and what i have experienced so far.
There is probably no perfect solution to find in the PC market with it's many, many hardware components  and software combinations.