Spending a week on Windows will help provide some perspective… it’s hard to remember just how bad things can get when you’re spoiled by MacOS for so long.
I am not too happy with the direction macOS is moving towards, though I do understand Apple’s motivations and agree it is still better than Windows. For reference: been a Mac user ever since I was like 10 years old or so, starting with System 6.0.
I do feel some Linux or perhaps a BSD system with a GUI like WindowMaker might feel like an improvement at this point.
It’s something I will probably try in the coming year.
Apple's OS is becoming more and more secure and while I understand this makes sense for the average user, it brings many annoyances. Also from a developer perspective (notarisation, having to jump through hoops to install software from 'untrusted sources', etc...). This is my biggest annoyance with macOS at this point.
I'd like to have a system that is 'less secure' in which I feel I have more control over my system.
Also it seems Apple is moving apps included in macOS to be more in line with iOS, which is not really something I like to see. It will likely dumb down app functionality.
I think you expressed my feelings as well quite accurately. Dumbing down + adding more (unfortunately somewhat necessary on a mainstream platform) annoyances and hoops.
I used OS X exclusively from 2008 onward, and I switched fully to linux late last year. I managed to make the switch tolerable by learning and falling in love with tiling window managers and minimal desktop environments that are available on linux. I could never stand 'traditional' desktop environments on linux, they always felt so clunky. With Sway (or i3 on my desktop), the operating system just disappears out of sight. All I see is what I want. A little bar with information and system status, a browser window, a bloated text messaging program or two, and heaps of terminals.
Really fast, too, unlike macOS.
My work provides me with a Surface to do my thing. I get to experience both. With that birds-eye view, I can decide that none of my money gets spent on Windows. Xbox, sure. Windows, pfft.
I do feel some Linux or perhaps a BSD system with a GUI like WindowMaker might feel like an improvement at this point.
It’s something I will probably try in the coming year.