Published at LXer:

I think it's time to clarify the matter of "too many Linux distributions" once and for all. As a Linux veteran like myself, it is getting annoying to see all sorts of comments on the Internet from people complaining that there are way too many distributions of Linux.

Read More...

I think it is this choice which makes it confusing to newbies, that is why they are forever asking for advice as to which distro to install.

To a regular, it doesn't matter, because you know what you want.

There are actually only a few real distros, these are the likes of Debian, SuSE, RedHat; everything else is just a respin/modification of them.

It's much easier to choose in the BSD world.

If you ask me: YES!

There are too many distributions out there. Lot of distributions are known, but even more are unknown. Most of those, if not the majority, are simply plain derivatives of the few big distributions. Most of these unknown distributions only change the theme of the desktop environment, give it a dashy name and..... et voila! You have a very new distribution! But those derivatives (except for a few) don't make any differences, doesn't contribute to the Linux community, aren't really advanced or progressive. It's just copying an existing distribution and changing the theme... You will see later on that these smaller/unknown distributions dies an "inglorious death", never known to the big masses, the public. Also these distributions lack good support due to the fact that they are unknown, they lack a big supporting community, they don't have a huge group of users, the developers don't have all that time to maintain their distribution. Adding up all these factors will be the foundation of ending such distributions. But basically, those spin-off's and/or derivatives really doesn't add anything new to the existing bigger, well-known distributions.

My advise is stick to one of the major, well-known and well supported distributions.

There are certainly too many unnecessary and trivial derivatives of the 'main' distros. However, if you don't buy into the whole freedesktop.org/systemd vision then you actually don't have that many viable choices any more.

I never think there are too many types of women, brands of machines, bars/pubs, shows to watch, places to travel and a lot of other things in life.

I find people uncomfy with choice boring as hell. Ordering the same meal day after day. Routine day after day.
I like the unexpected in life.

It is up to you to learn how to live life. Same Same for using Linux. Don't try and control choice, to suit your narrow view/tastes in life.
The rest of us won't thank you for it. Quite the opposite in fact.

The golden age of motorcycles was in the past, if you ask any crusty old biker. Choice has been pruned down in a lot of things in this day age. In some venues.
The world is poorer place for it.

One example: Seeds.

Lastly. If all a distro does is piggy back on another and just change themes. "The proof is in the pudding " as we say down here.
If it has any merit. It will stand and survive. If a "Flash in the Pan". It will die. No sweat or biggy here on the border.

I still keep this for certain uses/things. See. Choice is good.