Yeah, I'd be checking the smart stats on my drives and doing a full data backup if I didn't already have one.
It works just fine on my laptop - Intel, openSUSE
It mostly works fine on my desktop - Nvidia, endeavourOS
Since the explicit sync fixes, the only problems I have are janky scrolling in Firefox / Librewolf and a couple of bugs with panels. They are annoying enough that I use X11 on the desktop.
I disagree with you, I happen to think that the average person is intelligent enough to make an informed decision about their computing. They just have to forgo the learned helplessness that Microsoft and Apple have fostered since the early nineties.
I don't think it's unreasonable for someone who is dissatisfied to try a few out. Let's be clear here, if you're satisfied, then you're not going to even think about moving but more and more people are becoming dissatisfied, you can tell by the number of people on Reddit (yes I still lurk Reddit) asking about switching. Also, unless you're really a geek, it isn't going to be close to a technical decision - it will be purely gut-feel. I like this one, I don't like that one.
It's more like buying a car. Try a few out and settle on the one you like. You can even try them out online at distrosea
There's certainly a learning curve as it's a completely different OS. That's going to take time for sure. The problem is that people are so used to Windows or Mac that they forget they had the same learning curve when they started with whichever one they're using.
It's the same process as choosing which loaf of bread you like, or which car. You try a few out and decide which one you like. It's not hard.
I wonder how these people function in a supermarket
If it's available over the internet, it's a target.
Or run Windows in a VM if you need it.
We have to give credit for being able to do both
When we started, none of us had any prior knowledge and quite frankly, if it broke all the time none of us would have stuck with it. It's the same for people when they started with Windows or Mac OS
Finnegan, the grey, isn't mine but he is Percy's friend and a regular visitor. He eats my lot's food, plays with their toys, sleeps on their sofa, and is becoming friendly with their human. I think that I have a timeshare in a sixth cat!
While that's encouraging, I would still make a full backup of my data and have a plan to replace the drive while I investigated further.