[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

I wouldn't say that. I hate Windows these days quite a bit too, I just hate it less than I hate Linux Desktop.

I also strongly disagree with the "limitless variations". Most Linux distros are just another distro (usually Ubuntu) pre-bundled with a specific set of packages. Almost all of them use the same shells, the same application distribution model, and roughly the same set of disparately developed software. The differences are largely cosmetic.

> I will always choose the freedom to configure over a set-in-stone approach.

Ironically, this is why I don't like package management and repos: I like to have complete freedom over what software I install and that model is restrictive. One of the things I like about Windows is that if I go to some rando's site where they've written some niche application, I have nearly 100% certainty that the executable I download from them will work without me doing anything special. In Linux I usually end up having to go through the hassle of creating a whole build environment (in a container because I'm not insane) to compile their github repo... after I hunt down and compile their dependencies that also weren't in my distro's repo of course.