I don’t know about Linux being a pain in the ass. My kid was using first Linux on a laptop and then mac, and he wanted to go back to Linux where things make sense. He felt the mac was really confusing in where the files were. He also loved the integrated Software app where he can point and click install everything.
Now he is learning the terminal… :)
I think there is plenty of people who think macs are a pain in the ass too. Depends on what you are used to.