Dual boot is a great way to go, also, Ubuntu based distros like Pop OS work very well as persistent, bootable USB sticks. MK-USB works a treat to burn these distros but you will need a Linux install to do it. Then you can have a USB stick to take with you with your full OS on it (with persistence) and not interfere with your hard drive.

Just did a bit of reading. It has snap packs disabled (good) and they added the friendly open source alternative (flatpak) in 20.04.

Based on Ubuntu it should be familiar (although I hate GNOME) and I would install a different desktop environment (I recommend KDE Plasma).

I would say go for it. Personally I would go for the 20.04 Long Term Service release.

Dual boot is a great way to go, also, Ubuntu based distros like Pop OS work very well as persistent, bootable USB sticks. MK-USB works a treat to burn these distros but you will need a Linux install to do it. Then you can have a USB stick to take with you with your full OS on it (with persistence) and not interfere with your hard drive.

Just did a bit of reading. It has snap packs disabled (good) and they added the friendly open source alternative (flatpak) in 20.04.

Based on Ubuntu it should be familiar (although I hate GNOME) and I would install a different desktop environment (I recommend KDE Plasma).

I would say go for it.