Perhaps, but [citation needed].

Ha, I mean if you think there are only 200 different device IDs for fingerprint readers, go ahead and believe that.

it’s the buyer’s responsibility to verify Linux compatibility with that computer as a whole.

That's the exact problem.

You can’t expect to pop Linux into any random computer, or connect any random peripheral and just expect everything to work automagically.

Exactly, hobby project problems. I enjoy a good Linux computer hobby project but I also leave hobby projects in the hobby project section my life. When I want to get work done, I use the thing that lets me get work done.

Also, even on Windows, a fingerprint reader doesn’t normally work out of the box - you’ll need to install the drivers for it to get it going (unless of course you’re using a Windows build provided out-of-the-box by the system manufacturer)

(Most do, you can submit your driver to Microsoft to be included in the system update system.)

Either way, it’s manufacturer’s responsibility to create and upload drivers, and it’s their responsibility to create a Linux driver. Otherwise it’s up to the community to create it, in which case you’re back to usual rule-of-thumb where you buy only popular hardware models with known good Linux support.

Right, as hobbyists building drivers for their hobbyist's projects.