It is a common misconception to call Linux-based systems “Linux”. Linux is the kernel, the piece that manages devices, processes, and memory. GNU is a collection of tools (GNU ls, GNU Bash, GNU C Compiler, etc.).
What the user sees is the set of GNU and non-GNU tools running on top of the Linux kernel. This is the reason why rms insists on people calling their system “GNU/Linux” and not only “Linux”.
The Linux kernel is not the entire environment.
The set of GNU licensed tools and applications is not the entire environment.
Gnu + Linux is not the entire environment.
Those who care are aware of the distinction between "Linux" the kernel and "Linux" the environment built upon a Linux kernel. Those who don't are unlikely to be aware of the derivation or importance of either term. Of those who care few are willing to use his terminology.
This is not what I would consider a "misconception."
In my opinion Stallman does his cause damage by tilting at this particular windmill.
The same personality traits that cause him to spend inordinate amounts of time focusing on pedantic bits of terminology are the same ones that allow him to persevere in hammering home the same basic message over and over for 25 years in the face of setback after setback.
How many times do we have to go through this? You could have just used your favorite search engine to find the answer and the rest could just ignored you. By the way am I being too anti-social? Excuse me, please.
Huh ? "creator of the computer operating system GNU"
Can somebody explain what that means ?