Im tinkering with SteamOS on my desktop and ran into issues. (As in, completely unusable after install since it gets stuck on the initial auto-update) So I sent out a message on an internal project channel, asking any Steam Deck owners to help me out with some system logs I need from one. Complete with specific instructions on how to get them, to make it more convenient.
Now, I couldn't quite tell you for SURE why I chose to send this on a staff channel. I think it was "they know me so they are more likely to respond/help", but maybe, just maybe, it was subconscious anticipation.
Someone immediately asked if they can send it to a friend of theirs who has a Deck. Sure, and thanks!

Their friend apparently replied to just use arch linux, since SteamOS is basically just arch. You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear this piece of advice I never asked for, particularly since I was reading it on my computer currently running arch!
So I clarified that I am trying SteamOS because I have recurring issues with SteamVR, so I want to rule out any potential configuration issues being the reason. If Valve is in full control of the underlying setup, then that should be the best case scenario I can hope for (short of also using their specific hardware, ie a Steam Machine), right?
"they still say its dumb"
Uuuuuuh...
"They say 'Installing arch + plasma + steam will give the exact same experience as steamOS desktop'"
Well thanks for doing the entire test in your head, guy, unfortunately that kinda misses the point of Trying things, and is not very relevant and useful to me. If they just don't want to help, it's okay to say that without being such a techbro about it... This is the exact kind of person that makes people afraid to try Linux
-Hi, can you help me try X
-That's dumb, do Y

Now, it's entirely possible that their claim will turn out to be correct, and once I sort through this, I will get the exact same issues on SteamOS as I did on Arch. But at that point, at least I will know for sure there is nothing to be done except wait for Valve to fix SteamVR.
Meanwhile, I hope they are not anyone's first contact when asking for Linux help

Now of course, this is not *specific* to Linux. But I wonder if it is a magnet to it.