I have to agree with hackattack - personally, "I" have not had a lot of issues. When I have had them, some detective work and a few questions have usually resolved them.
As it happens, XAMPP (or WAMPServer for that matter) are pretty amazing tools - they are almost completely transparent to the installed OS. No Windows registry entries, all done with command line directives and/or scripts - PLUS a Control Panel. Ditto on Mac, Linux and Solaris - the OS has no idea they are there - easy to install, just as easy to remove.
Again, I agree with hackattack in that most of those issues are much more about the Windows OS, than the Linux originated projects that have been ported to Windows. All the 'big pieces' of XAMPP -- 100% -- have their origins in Unix/Linux and have unresolvable OS differentiations (such as executables, authentication and security and filesystem considerations) that have to be overcome and 're--rejiggered' every time there is a new Windows OS or Service Pack. AND its all done by unpaid volunteers from all over the world. Actually -- that's pretty amazing, too
ON THE OTHER HAND - there is no longer any reason someone cannot easily build a stack with standard, standalone installations on either Windows or Linux - Macs and Solaris are their own ball of wax -- not so easy -- ditto ARM (for now) and Itanium processors.
So you certainly have options.
Good Luck with whatever you chose to do