I don't think people resist change as popular as that adage might be. :) I think people resist change they did not ask for or resist when timetables for the changes are unrealistic. People want to move forward incrementally, comfortably. Changes like those in KDE and GNOME are unwelcome by many because most users did not have a meaningful vote and the changes are too dramatic without providing fallbacks to familiar territory. Same thing is happening in the Windows market, by the way. Some people love the new interfaces and work flows and that is expected. Many others could adapt if they had been treated with respect and compassion rather than as objects.
This is much like the frog in boiling water parable. If features are changed incrementally most users never object. They adapt. Change too many features at once with no forewarning and training and the frog jumps out of the water. :)
Yes, this is true. However keep in mind what usually happens to the frog--it gets boiled alive. ;-)
What I mean is that change to an inefficient way of doing things, even if done over a long period of time, is still change for the worse. Users may finally get "boiled alive"; i.e. get completely frustrated with their Linux desktop, and move to another platform that promises them the ability to get their tasks done faster.
Tim