Mainframes, have been the pioneers of using bytecode as distribution format, with the CPUs being microcoded for the specific bytecode set (e.g. Xerox PARC / Burroughs), or having JIT/AOT compilation at deployment time like IBM i and IBM z (aka OS/400, OS/300).

So while Linus opinion is to be respected, mainframes, and the increase in smartphones, smartwatches and GPS devices use of bytecode distribution formats with compilation to native code at deployment time, shows another trend.