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You can borrow a Vista install disk and run it as a trial for 30 days without paying. I'm pretty sure this is legal.
Aero works fine as long as you have a dedicated graphics card, though 64MB is a bit low and you may get a little bit of lag from time to time. You'd be running BELOW the minimum specs, so your mileage may vary.

I've used Linux, but neve a 3D desktop. I see no reason to use 3D really. I think I've seen what you describe on Youtube - looks cool, but would be pointless for what I use the PC for.

Vista's interface is far from useless. It's certainly more useful than Mac OS or the versions of Linux I've tried. It's also much improved over previous versions of Windows (I have to use older versions of Windows at work and I cringe every time I find another little thing that's a little bit easier in Vista.

If you want spyware and viruses on Vista you'd most likely have to both disable the security features AND do some seriously dumb things, such as open attachments in spam. Viruses and malware are not an OS issue. They are deliberate attempts to undermine security. Is a bank robber going to rob a bank that has millions of customers or one that has a handful? You luckily will probably never have these issues with Linux as it will never have a big enough market share. If you can't trust your own intelligence behind the keyboard, stick with Linux and you won't get malware. I've not had an issue with malware on either of my Vista computers and they've been running Vista for over a year.

I haven't touched Linux in over a year, but last time I installed it I couldn't get drivers for half my hardware...and it was clunky and ugly (granted not a big deal). There was a stupid penguin game that might have been fun were it not for the lack of sound drivers. If it didn't all come across as so amateurish it would have lasted longer than a week on that system. I'm sure Linux is good for some people (presumably too tightfisted to buy Windows or not interested in compatibility of hardware and software or using industry standard software). Linux has (apparently) come a long way in the last year, but I've not heard a SINGLE compelling reason for a Windows user to switch. All I've heard is a lot of nonsense (lies about Vista's performance, mainly) and fanboy arguments that amount to a urination contest.

In all seriousness, can you name a single compelling reason for an average Windows user to switch to Linux? (without resorting to rehashing lies about the hardware requirements or nonsense about malware, which is 90% the user's 'fault'). I'll give you a hint: the 100 things in the above article are mostly exaggerations or misconceptions.