If the only Linux distributions were in the style of LFS, Gentoo and Arch* you would have a point, but as long as Ubuntu, Mint, OpenSUSE, Fedora, Manjaro and the myriad other user-friendly exist I fail to see the argument.
Yes, Ubuntu has a Concorde cockpit behind the scenes and yes, I can access it on my Ubuntu work* laptop and I am grateful that I have that choice. I would hate not having that level of control.
Meanwhile, my mother's laptop is also Ubuntu and my girlfriend's is Manjaro, and they are both perfectly happy "flying their drones around" without ever setting foot in the Concorde cockpit.
I have used ubuntu for 2 years now, and its the motivation for the post.
Ubuntu (or really any distro I am aware of) is great for pensioners (email readers) and power users (career linux user), with a protracted and hellishly complicated experience in between (technologically adept, but lifelong windows user).
True, if you just want to fly straight to one of the most popular cities, you can just enter it in the autopilot and it will go there. But if you want to go anywhere or do anything else, you better be good a googling and understanding "how to fly a Concorde".
A better way is to get a book about linux administration (if you want an in-depth manual) or "How Linux Works" by Brian Ward. Then learn bash.
Windows is pretty much all GUI (I've left before getting used to Powershell) and that works great until you want to do rules-based changes or do profiles (without using MDM) with changes snapshot.
Most software have good manuals so once you've got a bit used to the linux's way, it's quite easy to adjust anything you need. And after a while, you find you're mostly using a few handful packages and you'd have their configuration saved in your dotfiles. As for packages suggestions, that's what distros are there for.
Trust me, I understand that Linux is all about reading.
I also understand that it is perpetually irrelevant in the consumer computer space, despite everyone in that space absolutely hating the dominate OS. A hate that you can watch grow in virtually real time on any social platform. But that hate is focused on pushing the giant back in-line, not at abandoning that giant for fresh pastures. You know why?
Because 30 years ago, someone who touched grass realized that consumers cannot, let me repeat: cannot, use an OS that is "all about reading".
Most consumers want appliances, aka a collection of software pre configured with a few customization options. When the current solutions (ipad, phone, MacBook, PC) fit, it’s great. And the current linux desktop distros are doing great in that regard, except on two points. They do not come pre-installed (with hardware support) and some software don’t support linux.
But as soon as you want something custom and do your own configuration, the manuals are required. Or you get someone to do it for you.
The middle hellish experience being described here is not a bad thing.
Fact is, Ubuntu used as autopilot is pretty great! It is way better than it used to be. Mere mortals can jump on a computer and often get the few things they want done.
What I do with users of that type, and myself depending on my moods and motivations for a particular machine, is treat it like Android.
Find the users an app they can click on and or tell them it is not going to happen.
Many will be happy with that.
The ones who are not need help.
Either they grow and become readers, and can pilot the computer properly, or they won't and helping them makes as much sense as their own efforts do.
> technologically adept, but lifelong windows user
Windows power users are also the ones who rant about the lack of video games in the ecosystem. They already have their happy place, and are not a worthwhile target for recruitment.
Some of them are. Namely the ones willing to have an open mind and learn new things. Games in particular are not a problem unless you are set on playing modern online games which require draconian kernel-level DRM.
> technologically adept, but lifelong windows user
This kind of user is going to have a bad experience with anything that isn't exactly Windows unless they are willing to adapt. The problem isn't that the way Linux does things is bad, it is that it's different from what you are used to. I guarantee that as someone who is at home under Linux dealing with anything on Windows feels just as bad for me as Linux does for you.
Yes, Ubuntu has a Concorde cockpit behind the scenes and yes, I can access it on my Ubuntu work* laptop and I am grateful that I have that choice. I would hate not having that level of control.
Meanwhile, my mother's laptop is also Ubuntu and my girlfriend's is Manjaro, and they are both perfectly happy "flying their drones around" without ever setting foot in the Concorde cockpit.
(*) I use Arch btw