I've always thought the claim that Linux talent was scarce was pure FUD. I for one am available and I have ten years of experience, have written many howtos on my own website, mailing lists, and even for a couple magazines. I have ten years of experience using Linux (seven as my main desktop OS), I can program well in a dozen languages, have skill with databases, and am also at home working with Windows, Mac OS, AS/400, and most other systems. I'm one of thost geeks that knows how to do everything but still has trouble finding decent work. I'm hardly the exception. I know hundreds of other Linux geeks that are unemployed or underemployed.
Linux talent is easy to find, cheap, and much more skilled than most of the Windows professionals you'll find. I totally agree that unexperienced HR and management is the reason companies have trouble finding Linux staff. Some of the job requirements are just insane especially since most of the time the jobs pay very little. "Kernel hacker, must have experience maintaining a major system. - $8/hr." Yeah sure.
