Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. Every one of the FAQs and all of the support that applies to Ubuntu also applies to Linux Mint. So, you have all the benefits of Ubuntu with some 3rd party software pre-installed and some Mint-only features that many people find desirable. You lose nothing but (IMHO) an inferior desktop environment called Unity by going with Mint over Ubuntu. And even then, if you really want to punish yourself with Unity, you can install it on Mint.
That is the beauty of Linux. You don’t have to be a rabid fanboy warning people away from things you aren’t even familiar with, because in many cases, whatever you like about any particular distro can be duplicated in another.
Now, if one wanted to debate using a Debian based distro like Ubuntu/Mint over one based on Arch or Gentoo or Fedora, that is a debate that has more merit than one over whether to use Ubuntu or a distro based on it.
Tried mint twice. Though based on Ubuntu, it doesn’t work or install as easily as ubuntu.
People always complain about the ubuntu desktop environment, sounds like much ado about nothing, it does work.