[Maxing Out Graphics]

1920x1080 on ultra high settings

 

Windows 7 64 bit

E8400 3.0 ghz

2 GB ram @800 mhz

EVGA 560 Ti 1gb superclocked

 

Computer doesn't even break a sweat... Fans start spinning like crazy with Crysis maxed out.

[Skyrim and Linux]

It's possible with wine, I wouldn't expect anything to run smoothly yet though. Someone has managed to get it running somewhat decently as evidenced in this video:

 

 

It's cool if you don't like Windows, but try and make sense if you feel the need to bash it. Windows fits the definition of an Operating System in every way imaginable. A gamer's console would be an Xbox or PS3. Both of those have legitimate operating systems as well, though they are definitely tailored more toward gaming compared to Windows which is completely intended to be a standard OS for general use like Ubuntu Linux or Mac OS.

[Skyrim and Steam WT?]

files should be readily available.

 

They are readily available under steam/steamapps/common/skyrim/data. The BSAs are all there and can even be opened and extracted with the Fallout Mod Manager.