I’ve used it in the past and its awesome. It works very well even on ancient hardware and is a fully functioning OS even if you never install it and just run it in live mode. Its basically a computer you can keep on your keychain and run on anything.

I started with Ubuntu and then Mint, I don’t think the system files being modifiable is a huge issue, I don’t think many noobs are really doing much to mess with them. If you’re just looking for something that does your basic everyday things then its just installing the OS and then putting your apps on there.

I was not thrilled with Cosmic after upgrading Pop! but switching DEs on Linux is very easy so it wasn’t a huge issue. I think Cosmic could be cool given more development, it just needs time. Though Pop! making it their default seems like a bad idea for them, its one of the beginner friendly distros that always gets recommended to new Linux users and now that’s going to be their first impression.

Yeah the map part is separate, it also just gives stats as numbers and graphs. It would probably be good for biking and walking.

OpenTracks works for running and includes maps

Originally I switched just because I didn’t have a Windows install available and Linux was convenient enough to just download and stick on there. But then once I got used to using it I massively preferred it. I’m the opposite of what you’re describing, I don’t want “problem solving and tinkering”, I like Linux because it basically just does what I want it to do. Windows does what Microsoft wants it to do lol.