Has anyone got experience with android-x86 for desktops? Is it as good as more established linux distros?

full disclosure: i don't have android-on-desktop experience, but I do have android on tablet experience.

pros:
tons of apps you can install by downloading and running and apk file (just like windows+exe!)
you're in a sandbox, so you won't hurt yourself.

cons:
no touch interface.
tons of apps that you have to vet yourself or risk getting malware, so you'll be looking for a good anti-virus program to run all the time.
limited customization and choice.
you're in a sandbox, so you won't learn anything useful or important.

To my way of thinking, Android is a very purpose-driven deployment: it is built to run on portable devices, and if you therefore try to run it on a desktop, you are probably just engaging in what is intended to be an exercise for developer convenience ... not a "real world" scenario.

Obviously, one of the advantages of Android is that it is built upon familiar software technology, but, even then, you are definitely looking at a purpose-driven environment. Therefore, anything that you deploy to it is going to have to be more-or-less customized and arranged to be compatible with that environment's design intent, which is, "portable." Don't expect to take a non-portable-oriented app and "drop it into Android." Frankly, don't even ask, because oranges don't belong in watermelon crates.