If you go the dual-booting route, you lose control over one system compared to the rest. Figuring out GPU drivers is another ...

If you virtualize it, you can't run the new Dx10 Aero replacement on Windows 7, as Vm-Ware does not not have a WDDM driver for the virtual display adapter available.

It is very normal to have multiple operating systems installed on a PC. If you need to use Linux and Windows for your work purposes or any other purposes, the obvious option you have is dual-booting ...