X has always worked "out of the box" for me, since 10.2 at least when I first started using Slack. Only time I have to do anything to xorg.conf is when I am updating the nvidia driver, fixing the wheel mouse and messing with compiz. And I prefer booting into the CLI, as was said before I do most of my administration there anyway.
Adding users is standard to any OS, and it's moot if you using the machine in a network environment where there will be central usernames and passwords.
I disable flash with flash block anyway, and usually you need to upgrade flash to get it working.
True, in pre-12.0 you had to edit fstab to add entries for USB, it was still easy to mount and open using your desktop browser. 12.0 uses HAL so plug-n-play is there, provided you add yourself to the plugdev group, which is a security feature.
Truthfully, everyone's ideas of a the perfect OS is subjective to their own POV. I prefer Slack precisely BECAUSE of the points you made. To me, it works like an OS should work, that is it runs your machine, and that's it. Slack leaves the administration in your hands, and doesn't hold your hand for you. That's the definition of the perfect OS, to me at least. When you try to do and be everything for everyone is when you run into behemoths that are bloated out of control and require massive amounts of resources, aka windows.

Unixfool [edit] and thekid [end edit] answered most of Cogar's points. Just a couple of additional comments.
1. Yes, you are right, you do have to add a user. I'll use this as an example of how Slack seems much easier than the gui-fied distros. To add that user you just need to run the command "adduser username". Not "Go to this control panel, choose this, click on that, etc."

2. You can choose to start cups or not in the setup.

[edit] Sorry, this has already been addressed
3. USB and other devices automount since Slack 12.
[end edit]

Brian

You might want to try Zenwalk.

http://www.zenwalk.org/

I have tried many distros. Started with SuSE 8.2 personal. I like Slackware. it does everything I need an operating system to do. Slack 12.0 is the best yet for me. In my case Slackware is a viable desktop system, and no-one ever asks me if my software is "Genuine", there are no product keys etc.

Recent Slackware convert here, after using Linux - SUSE, Zenwalk, Fedora - for 2 years. Slackware is sometimes frustrating because I have only a single machine and I may not have time to address an occasional issue or mistake of mine, but that's why I keep another distro installed.

I spend almost all my time in Slackware, happily.

Edit: changed backup distro

Slackware excels on the desktop.
However, as previously mentioned it does need to be configured. You will need to be able to edit some text files and do some command line work.
I strongly recommend that you read the Slackbook before you install.
Slackware is the best version of Linux:-)

http://www.slackbook.org/

cd /root/sourceofwhateveryouwanttoinstallthatyoujustdownloaded

./configure
make
make install

Those last three lines should help you.

Slackware is the most stable and simplest linux distro in my opinion.The install is still a menu install really, just like fedora except that it does not look like the traditional menu.Once you get passed that and remember a few linux commands you're good to go.

It's an excellent desktop and I can still play a lot of games whether they have linux versions or not because wine works very well on Slackware as do most things and to top it off the Slackware forum here is a very helpful and worthwhile place to ask questions.

Hi,

As others have pointed out that Slackware makes an excellent distro to use for the desktop of YOUR choice.

My desktop usage is limited. I use the cli most of the time. Only when I get real lazy do I fire up XFCE or KDE. Generally when I want to burn a lot of cds, I'll fire KDE for K3b.

Most of my work desktop is with XFCE and Firefox for the web. Support for 'vista/Xp' but that is selective on my part. My wife and other clients!

OSs' are tools that you can use as You need them. Not a religion as some seem to fall into that mode of thought. I do prefer my Slackware over any other but the world has a lot of people that choose others. Those are the people who never truly understand their system fully. And are the first to scream for HELP!

I certainly (think) I had to run xorgconfig - however, I was working from a Slackware installation howto so maybe I just did it. Haven't had a chance to really play yet - it's actually a guest OS in Xen at the moment - but yes it's simple to set up and after I added a user fired up KDE just like I'm used to (.. where's the green chameleon gone?)

On my latest Slackware installation I did not have to run xorgconfig to get KDE working. Unfortunately a lot of things were screwed up, so I had to run it anyway. I suggest doing it ahead of time.

Joel