Yeshu: Please provide me with guidance to get under the Pinguin banner.
Over the past couple of decades I've bought several Apple computers with Mac OS X (or macOS) for myself and for other people, as well as given recommendations for a few other computer purchases. However, even in these past few years of that, I typically now have the same two recommendations.
The first recommendation is pretty much to weed out those people merely curious. I always say the everyday person should not have a computer. That's because the everyday person does not have a computer engineering department at home, let alone a tech support department to figure what the computer engineering department didn't document. Everyday persons are always waiting for someone else to magically know what application to create without having been asked what is desired. Even if someone is found that will make something for a specific everyday person, then by the time the application is created it is likely that everyday person will want to do something else (either in addition or entirely different). Hence even more waiting.
In other words, either good luck being satisfied with someone else's interests (like wearing someone else's clothing or eating their choices of food), or good luck in having time to wait for someone else (a computer programmer or engineer) to customize the computer.
The second recommendation I give is for people who know the difference between the hardware, the operating system, and applications. If someone does know the difference, and it sounds like you do know, then I tell them to never buy a computer with the primary interest of either the hardware or the operating system. The main focus for purchasing should always be the desired application or program (and preferably one you already know how to use, or are getting paid to learn it).
The reason is because the software developer of that application will reveal the requirements for that application you have decided you want to use, and that is how to know what operating system to get and what hardware. Their hardware recommendation is typically general, and their operating system recommendation is typically more specific.
As such, I'd say to you to find software that you want to use (and preferably is already familiar) that works with an operating system that has Linux as its kernel, but only because you expressed an interest in experiencing something with Linux. I consider the operating system itself as just background noise, something that isn't important to what is desired to get done. It's the application that people use. Otherwise, you just end up with a rather expensive and bulky device that's no more useful than a doorstop, like a game console that doesn't have the games you want already made for it.
Hopefully, you won't mind my clarifying what Linux is by sharing an analogy of comparing a computer to an ordinary car.
I consider the hardware of a computer to be equivalent to the parts of a car: the headlights, the wheels attached to the axels, the door windows, the engine hood and trunk hood (because often there is lever for them by the driver's seat), the windshield wipers, and so forth. I consider the operating system of a computer, such as GNU/Linux, to be equivalent to the controls and wiring of a car, as the controls and wiring enable using the hardware of the car.
For example, the controls for the headlights are connected with wiring to the headlights, so there are three parts: the headlights-control-knob, the wiring, and the headlights. Similarly, the steering wheel is the control, and the steering column and shaft leading to the wheels is what connects the steering wheel to the hardware. Specifically, Linux is just the wiring (and steering column, and such), while
GNU/Linux is both the controls (knobs, switches, steering wheel, and so forth) and wiring.
GNU was supposed to be a complete operating system on its own, but it lacked stable wiring. Linux happen to become well developed wiring sooner than what could be developed for the GNU operation system, so Linux was adopted as the wiring for the GNU operating system for connecting the controls (various programs) to the hardware (display, keyboard, printer, etc.). Hence it is credited as being GNU/Linux rather than just GNU. Nobody actually uses Linux any more so than anybody actually sits on a pile of wiring to drive somewhere. Yanking on the wires doesn't operate a car, its the controls that are the interface to the hardware.
Anyway, if you want to use pencil and paper, then you gotta think of a use for pencil and paper. So that's why I'd say find an application that works with an operating system that uses Linux if you really want to have the experience of that type of so-called "wiring" in your computer.
Just keep in mind that while GNU/Linux is considered to be stable enough for everyday use, it is just as fallible as any other operating system. That is, it might not have the knowledge of how to connect to the hardware of a computer or the peripherals attached, but that can be said of macOS and MS Windows, too, because they typically download device drivers (f.e. software for printers) only when needed and are not included otherwise. If you have ever sought out device drivers for a printer from its manufacturer, then you already know what to do to seek out the device drivers for any hardware for use with any operating system when that operating system doesn't find them itself (which can happen with either macOS or MS Windows, too).
There's a variety of GNU/Linux operating systems, but the ones with less freedom for making and distributing changes/corrections to the software needed for connecting to various hardware (t.i. device drivers) are ironically the operating systems most likely to work with more hardware. That's because the hardware manufacturers know their own hardware and make the software for it, while also not sharing the source code and not licensing it to allow for modifications, and instead legally restricting distribution of modifications.
Therefore, I think it is best to choose hardware whose manufacturers distribute the source code with licensing allowing for modifications and distribution of those modifications, such as with the General Public License (GPL). Otherwise, you are depending on the manufacturer to make timely corrections and updates, and at some point they might lose interest in continuing to support it before you lose interest in using the hardware. Admittedly, that can be said of any computer part, not just the peripherals. I mention this mostly because GOG promotes the lack of digital restriction management (DRM), which addresses a similar issue.