I’ve run a Linux desktop (KDE for me) from 2000 on - it works. They are not trying to sell you stuff or sell your info.
I also maintain several Linux machines - takes very little time to do the security updates - the one Windoze machine takes more time than all the Linux machines combined.
Certain folks at 3 Ltr agencies have pushed ‘secure boot’ - it is the opposite of what it sounds like - any machine connected to the internet is simple not secure.
I’m running Kubuntu 20.04 with the Plasma desktop on an 8 year old Thinkpad W530 and it’s the fastest PC I’ve ever used. For kicks, I do a 5 second countdown when shutting down. I never make it to zero and that’s right after having shut down 2 browsers and a handful of programs right before shutting down Kubuntu.
Several years ago, Plasma was buggy but they got it all straightened out.
Only time I hit the command line is when I want to add a software repository specific to a program so that I can install said program. It’s all copy and paste from a website to the terminal. I’ve never had an issue installing 3rd party, free software with Linux because the code is always Open Source. I don’t know what the code says but other people do.
I remember trying to get freeware for Windows. The malware/adware it came with was also free and usually took over the browser completely. Once upon a time, download.com was fairly trustworthy but eventually, half of what they had was malware. I became fairly expert at removing malware.
The alternative was spending $20, $50, $200 for each piece of software, on top of paying for windows.
“Let’s Go Windows.”
I have been running MalWarBytes for ten years now and have had no problems with malware on my W7 box. I have had W10 for a year on the other box and several virii including a ransomeware for which I just turned it off for three days and it went away. I have MWB on it now too.