The FHS is basically the old Unix-style hierarchy. It's completely impenetrable to most people (especially due to its 70s-style abbreviated names -- many people think "/usr" stands for "user", while it's actually "Unix System Resources" etc.).
So, in this case, Apple used that for the non-user-serviceable parts, but kept the NeXT-added folders that users and their applications are to use (i.e. /System, /Library, ~/Library and /Network). Since in Linux and typical Unixes there's not much difference made between user and admin and developer (as far as the file system is concerned -- there's pretty much only the security distinction between stuff at / and stuff in ~/...), I think this is actually a good decision.
by Uli Kusterer — Nov 29
So, in this case, Apple used that for the non-user-serviceable parts, but kept the NeXT-added folders that users and their applications are to use (i.e. /System, /Library, ~/Library and /Network). Since in Linux and typical Unixes there's not much difference made between user and admin and developer (as far as the file system is concerned -- there's pretty much only the security distinction between stuff at / and stuff in ~/...), I think this is actually a good decision.