Every time I see people complain about the complexity of Linux, I just want to remind them that the alternative is Windows and, while it can require less work as long as what you want to do is supported… if you want to do other things like:

• have full-disk encryption without giving your encryption keys to Microsoft, or;
• not have every single document uploaded to the cloud to be consumed by AIs;
• or create a local user account
• or use search on your computer without having your search terms sent to Bing, or
• use Notepad without worrying about remote code execution exploits

etcetc, you still need to jump through tedious hoops involving using the terminal, editing system files and running random scripts from strangers on the Internet.

Sure, if you’re using Windows you can play games without having to check a box in Steam but there are other tradeoffs that you simply don’t have to make if you’re using Linux. For example, I control my own disk encryption keys, my ‘cloud’ is in a locked, encrypted and tamper-resistant fireproof server box inside my house, all of my accounts are local, search is a local command without any means of accessing the Internet and my text editor doesn’t even understand that communication with the outside world is even a thing (why would it need this?).