I've thought about posting this for quite a while. I'm not selling anything, and in fact it's the opposite. I wasn't sure if this discussion really belongs on this forum, but it does fit into the idea of the Great Awakening and sticking it to these tech corporate oligarchs. With Tim Cook you have a loathsome buttpuppet who fancies CCP enslavement, and Bill Gates is a villain obsessed with reducing the world's population through vaccines. Both are New World Order turdcopters who only seek to kill, oppress and enslave.
For myself, I've been getting sick of Bill Gates's crap for years and I'd been wanting to switch to Linux, but did not have the motivation. I was happy with Win7 and I refused the "free" upgrade to Win10. I did not want Win10 and every computer at work that was upgraded got slow. I'd resolved to never pay money for another Microsoft OS again. So when MS announced that they would cease support for Win7, that was my motivation to break free from my comfort zone.
In February 2020, I migrated from Win7 to Linux and I have not regretted it. Not only does Linux install on pretty much anything, uses less resources, makes older computers run more smoothly and it is completely free, but it is also far more secure. Say goodbye to malware, trojans, and viruses. You see? Bill Gates has conditioned everyone to not only become used to enduring a barrage of concocted viruses in real life, but for your computer too. On the day I migrated to Linux, I cancelled my Avast Antivirus membership, which was incidentally soon after they got into trouble for selling their users' data and apologized for getting caught.
Maybe 20 years ago, Linux was intimidating for most people. Then Ubuntu came along, and made Linux far more user-friendly. Because of its wide support base, it made Linux easier to acclimate to. You see with the Mac/Win situation, it's like Dairy Queen. You only get two flavors: vanilla and chocolate. With Linux, it's like Baskin Robbins: there are so many flavors you don't know where to begin.
Look: I won't give a whole presentation on the various types of Linux. Just know that there are many different OS to choose from, and each OS will have different user interfaces (GUI) to choose from. As I mentioned, Linux is far stabler, more efficient, and more secure. Linux Mint seems to be the most popular OS as it is built upon Ubuntu as a version that is tailor made to appeal to Windows users who liked XP and 7, but do not like the bloated puke that 10 is. Its foundation is the user-friendly, widely-used Ubuntu and it takes it a step further to appeal more to Windows users who look for a Windows alternative that is not outside of their comfort zone. With Mint, there are choices of GUI to choose from. Cinnamon provides a very Windows-like, elegant and charming presentation. Mate is more versatile and customizable. XFCE is more of a no-nonsense GUI that is best for older hardware. As for myself, I went with Mint Mate.
Another OS that is easy to pick up and learn is Zorin OS. I haven't used it myself, but I plan to test it out sometime. With Linux, you can't go wrong. Even Microsoft uses Linux for their servers rather than their own crap. https://www.cybersecurity-insiders.com/microsoft-uses-linux-instead-of-windows-for-its-azure-sphere/
I see a lot of Linux users recommend newcomers to install VirtualBox and make a test install on that. I tried that, but I did not care for it as I have an older computer and it was rather laggy. No, if you can just burn an install DVD, you can just boot up to that. I made an install DVD for Mint and once I had booted my computer off of the DVD-ROM drive, I could actually use the OS to get a feel for how it works. It's so no-nonsense that you can run programs right from the install disc. I got into Firefox, logged into my Gmail, and then I could do a Hangouts video call with my friend. He's a Unix admin and even he was floored that I was just running my computer off the install DVD. Give it a try. You can use the OS without even having to install it. When you have all of your stuff backed up and are ready to make it happen, then you just click the install icon on the desktop. It's that simple.
You really don't have to bother much with drivers. Drivers are the software that interfaces with hardware, but Linux acts like that software itself. I imagine that this is why it runs slimmer. All I can say is just try it out. Unless you really must use some proprietary software like Microsoft Access or Adobe Photoshop for your work or something, you can find alternatives. Best of all is that it's free. Linux was doing the whole "app store" before Apple did. You can easily just install software from the software manager, or you can just pull up the terminal and type in the request to install a program. No more having to hunt down installation files off of various websites. Give it a shot! Let me know what your experiences are with this.
My main problem with Linux is gaming. Modern gaming isn't usually a problem if you don't mind Everyone's Favorite DRM(Steam) and GOG is pretty good with it sometimes, but there are just some things it can't replace Windows for. I got a new laptop that just doesn't work as well as with Windows. The wireless card, entering sleep mode, correctly utilizing external displays, handling usb devices after waking from sleep mode... I fully endorse the idea of using Linux, but it takes some work and you will grow from it.
There are also always edge cases: Ragnarok Online prett much needs Windows. Final Fantasy Xi and many other games can run on Linux, but may take more effort than it's worrh. Or be unreliable.
Project64 is the only N64 emulator that supports the GB plug-in for the back of the controller (Pokemon Stadium). Like many 3D applications, it does not run well or at all in na virtual machine.
RPG Maker, depending on version.
Stuff like that.
Addendum: it is not malware proof. There are things out there that will infect a Linux machine. You probably won't encounter them, but you can not be complacent. Additionally, like with modern Windows, your problem isn't viruses or other obvious malware as much as it is malicious scripts on websites or intrusion, or mishandling your data (either by yourself or through some big have in a company)
There does not need to be a one off. As you point out, you are gaming.
So, maybe you could use a stripped down version of Win, or use win in a sandboxed environment, because you are splitting your game activity from other activities.
This may result in several profiles, which do not yield a complete picture.
It really depends on your views on how to deal with the spying environment and what objective you are pursuing.
Malware indeed is an issue for any OS. Hence, my advice to run a rootkit now and then, and be aware about how you treat OS versus your data and data access.
Convenience and laziness is being your own biggest enemy.
Yes, there have been Linux malware instances, but those are rare and regular updates should prevent against that.
As for gaming, it seems to be hit-and-miss. I'm not much of a gamer like I used to be. The most recent console I have is a 360, and it's because a coworker gave me his for free a few years ago. I have a Steam account and I've bought a few games. Steam OS games work in Linux automatically, but they now have a new beta version that somehow allows you to play other Steam games for Windows. I couldn't get it figured out and frankly it is low priority.
TBH, I play RetroPie, which I have installed not only on my Raspberry Pi but my desktop as well. I play those games far more than my Steam games.
If more people make the switch to Linux because they want to avoid being buffaloed by Mac and Win, then the user base will grow and gaming companies would have to stop ignoring Linux. The same goes for Adobe Photoshop and such. We need to quit supporting big tech which tramples our rights, and it's why I started this discussion on here.