“I’m pretty sure I’ll never take the time to learn more about Linux, nor will I want to, or wish that I had.”
You tried the wrong one is all. I thought the very same two years ago. When you have the right one there is almost no “learning” to it at all. :)
You would not believe how many die hards have been pleasantly surprised when they finally ended up with the correct distro. :)
But I will leave it at that and not be a pain in the rear about it going forward. lol
I had to do a search because I couldn't visit some sites without my Pi time and date matching the servers'. So I searched for how do I manually set the clock. Bunch of hits, including a site dedicated to Pi discussions.
The sites purporting to have the answer wouldn't show me the page because my time and date didn't match.
That, in essence, is the Linux experience.
I used the W10 tablet (the two CPUs are hooked to that 40" tv) to read the instructions and tried five or six different ones that Pi / Linux users just guaranteed would work. Finally found one that did. Luckily I can revisit my typing on the command line by the use of cursor keys, in case I need this again. After the third boot or so the effin' automatic set by server gizmo started to work.
By the way, this isn't a solicitation for how to do either thing (turn on the automated thing, or manually set the t&d). :^) Believe me, that's the last thing I want to see another version of.
I've used the Pi (v1) before, back when it came out, an early-adopter buddy had one, we hooked it to this same tv and it was, well, it worked, it wasn't too toylike, could be used for stuff. Version 4 is pretty darned good. Of course, I had to put it together, and btw, the Canakit has basically NO insructions for assembly, so I had to view a YouTube on the 2-in-1. It took two tries (and an interminable download on the second try) to install the Raspbian and get the system to boot. Then the t&d problems which I'm glad are behind me.
As I think I mentioned, I've got a fully functional W10 machine, with screen and keyboard, and while it's a small form factor, it's good to go and can be used (with some reading glasses), while the Pi is really just a cigarette pack sized CPU, no keyboard, no mouse, no monitor -- and the same money.
My intent is to, perhaps, use the Pi as my in-house VPN server.