I'd argue options really are limited. Your counter argument assumes one can just roll their own OS with the same features and functionality as current-gen OS's. That's quite a leap. Options today are Windows, Mac, or some flavor of Linux if you can get it to work. Linux aside, Windows and Mac both are making it so you no longer own the OS but are "subscribed" to it. Making it easy for them to implement anti-consumer strategies to lock you in.

Do not try to get anything work. Just buy preinstalled.

(And no, chromebooks are not linux for any practical purpose, although they probably would be easier to install a real linux system on.)

https://puri.sm

https://www.debian.org/distrib/pre-installed

and many more.