Hey there XPSP2.
I do understand what your saying about multiple users. For years i had to share with my parents until i recently got my own laptop as a "Congrats, son, you survived 18 years on this earth" present
Regardless of my good habits as a computer user my parents would often screw it up due to computer illiteracy. In that aspect, i can certainly see how Linux gives you complete peace of mind having to have multiple users on a single computer.
As for burning dvds. People have blown vista's DRM totally out of perspective. Its a complete misunderstanding. Its not nearly as bad as people say it is, and its never given me a problem. Why i copied a DVD just a couple days ago on my vista machine using a third party software of course.
As for the tweaks. Most are simple things that anyone with a sound knowledge of the windows OS's can do. Most of what i meant lies in the programs you use for protection. I know Linux doesnt require much protection (if any) but not even linux is invincible. Linux is being more widely used for individual users as well as on servers so its actually becoming worth it for programmers to write harmful code that does infect linux. Its only a matter of time till linux will be quite unsecure itself (but not moreso than windows, it still takes the cake for out-of-the-box security issues : P) Ram doesnt need to be a problem either, with the right use of programs you can easily use an insignificant amount of ram and still have security like a tank.
Im not putting linux down, its awsome for someone interested in doing everyday tasks. But thats kindof what your limited to unless you wanna search the web for a tut that will actually work for your linux distro. Thats assuming that what you want to do can even be done.