microcube,

I suggest that you follow the KISS principle and use Linux Mint MATE or Xfce.

I'm a big fan of Ubuntu. It's stable, well supported and has a great community. When I made the decision to move from Windows I really felt quite at home with the interface and it has rarely caused me any disappointment. I have installed it on lots of different machines from low end laptops to high end tower PCs with no problem.
If you are looking for something that really flys on lower end machines I would recommend Ubuntu Mate. It's one of the official flavours of Ubuntu and is a bit slimmer than the standard version. Being one of the official flavours, you can depend on it being updated and released in the same cadence as the standard version which makes for a more stable distro.

1 members found this post helpful.

I've been once told that Slackware could be a good start to learn linux.

With online documentation we have now, and a rigourous RTFM, things might be even easier nowadays. Could fit with some of the OP requirements.

Once tried Debian and felt that it won't let me just do what I wanted (and let me still bork the system, just their way only).

Slackware for me. 'Cause it just works (TM).

best supported, most totalitarian regime: probably Ubuntu china

most likely on your phone or pad: googleOS, harmonyOS, samsungOS, iOS

best hardware support with "freedom": LFS, DiY

best kernel/OS compiling solution: freeBSD (you can use allot of linux, it has lxrun also kernel level compat hacks, but they are still hacks, and unfortunately, the two kernels just don't play together under 1 house and wont for eons maybe)

best gaming: xbox?

best movies photos and trouble free: iPad ? dell light or ms surface pad? on a dell light laptop you can run win10 and ubuntu in win10 (you might like, and it's really easy), apple has unix built-in but they are switching to "all ARM" and are in transition so be aware they still sell intel base today (that actually can be said for all brands?)

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> I'm trying to make a permanent move from Windows to Linux

https://linux.die.net/man/

(they are all dice. all of them. take that to heart and don't grow old) there isn't one OS i can suggest linux or non-linux that won't eat your heart out at some point / on some points. keep upgrading is what they demand.

...

My favourite one is Arco. İ love Debian too. Linux is good.

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WFM