Geneal linux programming and architecture explanation

I'm sort of at a loss.... I've got a new job, where I will be working on a new controller for our product. I've finally convinced the powers that be to use embedded linux, because of its wide availability, hardware support, and open platform. We've been badly burned on our last controller, which is a closed, proprietary platform, so we're having to write off the investment in that platform.

I am dealing with a group of people who, while open to linux, have never worked with it, and have no real understanding of its ownership, GPL, or how the whole community development model works.

On another level, I am also talking with people who, while being fairly good and experienced programmers, have never been exposed to the 'many small programs' philosophy of *nix, and its (in my mind) inherent advantages over the monolithic mega programs of Windows. I am having some conceptual difficulty explaining that it is easier, for example, for me to a) install a full OS, b) install a webserver, c) install a browser, just to get a user interface rather than writing a custom screen editor. (This is in fact so because the product has to be accessible for both local and remote users, so a browser interface makes sense....)

So.... Is there a gentle intro to linux somewhere? Its philosophies, programming architecture, etc.?