It does have its issues and is probably not something that you should recommend universally. However, most Moms don't even know when a new version of Android has released unless you tell them, so it's probably not really an issue for them.
The process differs from device to device. Most of the time it will include pretty advanced stuff from the Mom's perspective, things like commandline usage and installation of bootloaders.
That said, it's not very hard for your average Linux user. Just follow the tutorials.
I disagree strongly regarding the Android version issue and moms. My mom, cousins, and co-workers (non-programmer) all seem to upgrade their iPhone iOS without issue. I would expect the same from Android.
Uh, do they all use jailbroken iPhone versions? A standard Android upgrade is easy and great. Rooting your phone and replacing with a custom ROM isn't at "Mom" skill level, just like jailbreaking an iPhone isn't "mom" skill either.
The process differs from device to device. Most of the time it will include pretty advanced stuff from the Mom's perspective, things like commandline usage and installation of bootloaders.
That said, it's not very hard for your average Linux user. Just follow the tutorials.