Of course, there are always small issues that can make it a little harder. When most hardware is designed first and exclusively to run Windows, there will always be issues to be resolved.
I made a mistake though. You never advocated for anyone else to take the LTSC route, and that’s that I incorrectly read out of your message. My apologies. I usually take issue with people saying that’s a solution for other people. You never advocated that. Sorry.
If you’re the type of person that can acquire and run LTSC, aren’t you exactly the kind of person that has the ability to switch to Linux?
We’ve been through this before.
When Windows dropped most 32 bit support, desktop Linux had a chance just like this, but it didn’t happen then either. Unless some distro becomes a perfect 1:1 replacement for Windows on all hardware, with no changes in installation procedure. (including when it’s purchased) as well as: All software must run not only perfectly, but exactly the same, with everything from installation to every moment of use exactly the same, otherwise people will use Windows unpatched, or go out and buy new hardware.
In my opinion, the year of Linux on the desktop will only come when the desktop is abandoned, and it is no longer a commonly used platform.
Yes, it’s bleak, but we’ve been down this road before. Unless a distro becomes perfect, no significant change will come.
Scoop up that hardware being discarded, install your favorite distro (because you will be supporting it) and give it away to someone to learn Linux. There will never be a mass exodus, just install, educate, and chip away 1 user at a time.
Interesting note: Dick Van Dyke was a big Amiga user back in the day.
Leave “Weird Al” alone!