Yes, you can run into some issues when attempting to install/configure software that most people don't use. I've never installed Pipelight, so I can't speak to that, but expecting grandma or aunt millie to do so is just wrong. Heck, I doubt they can install Windows.
Once it is installed, I do fully expect that they can "hop on linux" and use it effectively--for them. That use case is pretty much just web browser and (possibly) e-mail. Those are no-brainers.
I respectfully disagree. Case in point - my wife - her laptop got a windoze virus so I put Ubuntu on it for her and also a VirtualBox VM to run mostly Quicken for Windows.
She’s an intermediate computer user - not an Aunt Millie but not a power user either. She’s required a LOT of hand-holding imho - to an experienced tech person the UI differences appear minimal and you don’t even notice they are there. To a non techie they seem quite daunting.
Don’t get me wrong - I love linux - I use it every day on multiple computers - but I think it’s a mistake to minimize the difficulties for non-tech users - they are there and they are real.