There's probably a place for both. At least companies like Adobe, Skype, etc, are now offering linux support, and putting out quality products. I'm currently using Opera (and Skype). Last I checked, Adobe was far ahead of any freeware project, although I'd love to see some competition.
From Ars Technica, Oct 17, 2008:
"The web collectively got a bit shinier this week with Adobe's release of Flash Player 10. The new version offers designers a compelling set of new features including support for rich 3D visual effects, a new antialiasing engine, an improved drawing API, support for color management, and enhanced support for streaming audio and video content. With this release, Adobe is clearly taking steps to ensure that Flash stays ahead of the curve and won't lose traction in the face of competitive pressure from Silverlight."
Also noted was better support for "alternative operating systems"