Desktop linux has all standard software. It's just incompetent IT teams trying to sugarcoat the fact they keep throwing money down the Microsoft drain.
Desktop linux doesn't even have anything close to things like group policies. And if by magic that function would appear tomorrow, it would disappear again the day after tomorrow. Sure active directory and group policies have their flaws but its ease of use and tight integration blows everything else out of the water.
You're bringing up an important point. However: As far as I can tell, Linux can very well be integrated into an Active Directory setup.[0,1] Also: If you want to avoid Active Directory altogether, there seem to be plenty alternatives?[2]