When someone ask how FOSS(Free and open-source software) can be any good, I just have to point them to Firefox or LibreOffice. Both are FOSS apps that are cross platform, meaning that why run on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, that are FOSS and are really good apps that anyone can use.
There are many other FOSS examples to give. On the OS level there are Ubuntu(which is my favorite) and Linux Mint, and other apps include GIMP to edit images, Kino an video editing app, Pitivi a non-linear video editing app, or Rhythmbox as an audio playback app.
Granted that there isn't a substitute for every proprietary out there, yet with every passing day this is less of a trouble. As of now, I'm quite certain that there is an FOSS alternative for almost every user. Personally, I've been using Ubuntu or Linux Mint for almost 6 years now and I haven't run into any significant problem that can't be easily solve by a Google search.
As I said, if someone isn't ready to jump to a Linux distro to go fully FOSS they can still have access to good FOSS apps like Firefox, Thunderbird, or Clementine that can be used Windows and Mac OS X.
As time goes on, its becoming harder not to come by, and support, FOSS in some way. Even if you can't use an FOSS OS, there are FOSS apps that can be used on proprietary OSes to begin with.
Yet, FOSS is better since it respects users freedoms. There is no good reason, or real one, to forgo these freedoms. All of the reasons given no to use FOSS are FUD(fear uncertainty and doubt) tactics, not based on any real issues.
FOSS is as safe, if not safer, than proprietary software. And just as good, if not better.
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