I've been gaming on Linux for about a decade, it has improved massively since Proton, and I'm at the point where I'm able to play Helldivers 2 with its anti-cheat with my buddies and get great performance (the game's performance/bug issues aside).
I tried Bazzite for a while on my desktop, it's fantastic for gaming, but I'm also a dev and a Linux user since I was a teen (almost all of the years of Linux) so I found it a little limiting for my other PC related stuff (I typically prefer to run Arch and Arch based distros on my machines).
For anyone with a computer dedicated to gaming I'd recommend Bazzite, I still run it on my ROG Ally since the moment I took it out of the box; I bought it _because_ Bazzite existed, never even considered booting Windows. It's a great distro tuned for gaming, and comes with some features like VRR and HDR that aren't as easily available on other distros (I've been able to get HDR on Arch/Gnome but not VRR).
It's hard for someone who relies on Windows software to be entirely rid of Windows, which is why I don't tell people they should switch to Linux, but it's not impossible if you really want to, unless you rely on a piece of software that just won't run under WINE or doesn't have an alternative.
For me, I grew up with Linux alongside Windows, went into a career that uses and targets Linux exclusively (backend SE) and for my computer based hobbies; gaming, coding, 3D printing/modelling they're served very well these days, and constantly improving.
for me Bazzite is perfect, as my Home-PC really is 99% used for gaming. every couple of years i want to edit a video, guess i'll need to search for another software, or just install Davinci Resolve on the dualbooted Windows :D
don't have as much Proton experience as you, but i also feel like it's gotten way better compared to 4-5 years ago when i first tried it.
i'm always very mindful when suggesting people to use Linux, as like you i work with Linux daily, so of course i'm going to have less trouble using it compared to Joe Schmoe who exclusively uses Windows and never installed an OS himself. but for people who aren't afraid of tinkering a bit, sure.
now at the point where i'm considering switching to AMD from NVIDIA, just because it seems way better for Linux.
> every couple of years i want to edit a video, guess I'll need to search for another software
There's a few video editing tools on Linux, I believe Kdenlive[0] is popular, I don't really have any experience with them beyond very basic editing of family videos.
> but for people who aren't afraid of tinkering a bit, sure
My daughter who's now 6yo has only ever used Linux (Arch no less; yikes) and until someone in the educational system tries to make her use Windows, there's really no need she'll have to. She's a little too young for a conversation about "software freedoms" at the moment, but she can play Minecraft on my laptop just fine, once she's interested in branching out I'll find (or recommend) other tools for her.
> now at the point where I'm considering switching to AMD from NVIDIA
That's been on my mind for a while now too, I jumped back to AMD for CPUs when they got back in the game, my XPS laptop is the only Intel device I still have.
The only the holding me off AMD for GPUs is the performance, they're just not competing in the top end with Nvidia, once they have something I'm happy will perform I'll jump ship there too!
went through this process a couple of times. Kdenlive, Openshot, Shotcut. Sadly never found one i really like. problem for me is that i edit videos once every 2 years on average, so i never get to develop muscle-memory for these indie-linux-tools. with Davinci there's at least a ton of resources online to help me. i think i liked Kdenlive the most, but i also vaguely remember being really annoyed by the workflow and lack of a bit more advanced things. but as with proton, i should probably not loose hope and just try again the next time i "need" a video editing tool.
> My daughter who's now 6yo has only ever used Linux
that's really cute, glad that you're enabling these skills for her :)
> they're just not competing in the top end with Nvidia
i have the advantage of being a power-gamer but at the same time being concious of what i really need, so i'm sure a flagship AMD card will be more than enough for me. i of course don't care about ML and other use-cases, so get that it's not an option for everyone.
I tried Bazzite for a while on my desktop, it's fantastic for gaming, but I'm also a dev and a Linux user since I was a teen (almost all of the years of Linux) so I found it a little limiting for my other PC related stuff (I typically prefer to run Arch and Arch based distros on my machines).
For anyone with a computer dedicated to gaming I'd recommend Bazzite, I still run it on my ROG Ally since the moment I took it out of the box; I bought it _because_ Bazzite existed, never even considered booting Windows. It's a great distro tuned for gaming, and comes with some features like VRR and HDR that aren't as easily available on other distros (I've been able to get HDR on Arch/Gnome but not VRR).
It's hard for someone who relies on Windows software to be entirely rid of Windows, which is why I don't tell people they should switch to Linux, but it's not impossible if you really want to, unless you rely on a piece of software that just won't run under WINE or doesn't have an alternative.
For me, I grew up with Linux alongside Windows, went into a career that uses and targets Linux exclusively (backend SE) and for my computer based hobbies; gaming, coding, 3D printing/modelling they're served very well these days, and constantly improving.