I’m a software developer with plenty of linux experience but I just want a distro that just works without me having to troubleshoot everything all the time. I am lazy and I just want something easy and reliable. I don’t want an update to break it. But I want the ability to customise it if I want to and the ability to install pretty much everything available easily.
Basically I want MacOS, but as Linux. I’m very hopeful that there’s something I have overlooked!
Despite the haters stock Ubuntu is the choice for you.
Use Pop. It’s based on the Ubuntu LTS, but doesn’t have the analytics crap turned on by default, plus they have pre-installed Nvidia drivers, and a pretty great shop, full of flatpaks.
I would also shout loudly for Pop! Also tried mint, Ubuntu, and Debian and I had very much the same “wish” as OP. For me, Pop was the clear winner.
I would hold off until they release their DE and see if it’s good or not
What? They already have a custom DE, but you can use any other DE that you want.
That’s why I use it!