I started with Ubuntu and then Mint, I don’t think the system files being modifiable is a huge issue, I don’t think many noobs are really doing much to mess with them. If you’re just looking for something that does your basic everyday things then its just installing the OS and then putting your apps on there.

I was not thrilled with Cosmic after upgrading Pop! but switching DEs on Linux is very easy so it wasn’t a huge issue. I think Cosmic could be cool given more development, it just needs time. Though Pop! making it their default seems like a bad idea for them, its one of the beginner friendly distros that always gets recommended to new Linux users and now that’s going to be their first impression.

Originally I switched just because I didn’t have a Windows install available and Linux was convenient enough to just download and stick on there. But then once I got used to using it I massively preferred it. I’m the opposite of what you’re describing, I don’t want “problem solving and tinkering”, I like Linux because it basically just does what I want it to do. Windows does what Microsoft wants it to do lol.

Its basically a Linux terminal for your phone that can run rsync, so it should work both ways.

I think you can do that with Termux on Android.

I’m currently using Pop!_OS, which is a great desktop distro.

I was using MX Linux a lot which is amazing for both times when you need a portable distro with lots of features and when you need something that will still run well on older machines.

I always assumed it was shorthand for an html close tag like </s>, so I’m going with “/s”.

Until markdown gets a sarcasm thing at least.