I genuinely doubt Torvalds (even a young version of him) could build a new competing OS in modern times, and have it succeed.
Linux succeeded in a much, much simpler world. What needs to succeed now is something that compares not to the initial Linux, but to the Linux 30 years later, with mountains of effort piled up on top. That is no longer something that can be achieved by any single person, no matter how motivated.
I genuinely doubt Torvalds (even a young version of him) could build a new competing OS in modern times, and have it succeed.
Linux succeeded in a much, much simpler world. What needs to succeed now is something that compares not to the initial Linux, but to the Linux 30 years later, with mountains of effort piled up on top. That is no longer something that can be achieved by any single person, no matter how motivated.