Now don't get wrong, I have Linux Mint 19.1 on another hard drive and I've been experimenting with it, but is that an actual "desktop" operating system in the same vein as Windows?
[[but is that an actual “desktop” operating system in the same vein as Windows? ]]
Depends on whether you can accept windows alternative programs like open office or gimp or other such substitutes- I can’t- I use linux as my every day, day to day computer for online stuff, email, card games, and that’s about it- as it’s much safer than windows- but for things l ike PC games, photoshop, office, I dual boot into windows proper- not some virtual machine-
Linux doesn’t make anything. Simply speaking it is an operating system.
What you are probably referring to are the assorted ‘distros’ that are Linux based and are generally packaged as a desktop system.
Most of these packages consist of Free and Open Sourced Software that is indeed free, being the product of communities of like minded people.
I use the same OS as you are experimenting with and find that I am more productive than I was ever able to be with any windows system I have ever used.