I’d recommend opensuse tumbleweed. Codecs can be a little weird, so I recommend installing a flatpak for VLC and your browser. Otherwise, I’ve found it to be a very similar experience.

Archinstall if you’re brave, endeavor if you aren’t.

Although if you don’t want to rawdog it, I’d recommend fedora or tumbleweed instead. The whole point of arch is that it’s simple to keep everything on your head.

Arch has a cult like following because it emphasizes simplicity and customizability. If you have the time to fully administer your own system, there is no better choice.

Ubuntu is corporate, frequently out of date, and sometimes incompetent. They got big a long time ago when they were a significantly easier option than their competitors, but I really don’t think there’s compelling reason for a new user to install Ubuntu today.

If you’re comfortable administering your own system, try Arch.

If you’re not comfortable administering your own system but you want a rolling release, try tumbleweed.

If you don’t want a rolling release, try Fedora.

I’d advise against Ubuntu, Debian, mint, and their derivatives. The only one I know of that doesn’t ship out of date packages is Debian unstable.

If you hate yourself, try Gentoo lol

Wayland had/has a couple of missing features. Personally, it’s nothing I use so I’ve been on Wayland for years now, but if you care about those missing features, then they won’t work.

Honestly I don’t even remember what they were anymore. I think screen capture was a big one though.

No. They exist, but they basically only have beer, cigarettes, chips, and candy. No actual food.

They’re also very badly overpriced.