I have never heard of anyone having the problems ddabrahim mentions, ever.
I have this kind of problems with repositories mostly with Ubuntu based distros but always. I normally also use the community repos and proprietary staff. That could be a problem if the same package is coming from two repos it is create a conflict, no idea.
I don't usually have this problem with other distros. PCLinuxOS I believe is independent, originally it was based on Mandriva I think, pretty stable but it was missing some packages I needed and I don't have this problem with Fedora right now. With Ubuntu and Ubuntu based distros, all the time, always.
My theory is that the Pop!_OS team do experiment with different backends like Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, Budgie and on that day they messed up and pushed the experimental Budgie version out and I was the lucky few who was at the computer at that very moment and installed it straight away. This is the only explanation I have for what happened. I am sitting at the computer all day and install updates straight away while others may wondering about and miss the window of opportunities to break the system. I have no other explanation.
Would never touch an Apple with a stick
You don't have to, it is possible to setup voice commands for any task you need. If you know anyone with disability need a computer, Mac comes loaded out of the box with all the functionality to setup for someone with disability.
they seem to be in a competition with Microsoft in monopolistic tactics.
I don't feel like Apple force anyone to use Apple software. I could use Chrome, Firefox, Brave but I like Safari. I could use WhatsApp but since everyone I know got an iPhone, using iMessage, FaceTime is convenient. I could use Microsoft or Google Docs but Pages works fine. Could also use Google Photos, Google Drive, DropBox, Linode and what not but iPhotos, Notes, Reminders and iCloud nicely integrate with everything else I don't feel like I am forced in to anything. It is my decision to use Apple software. I don't have to.
But because of Apple software, yes I am kind of forced in to using Apple hardware. I am thinking about this a lot but then just to be not forced to use Apple hardware if I force my self to use other software, it's the same thing essentially. I am forced to use Google Drive just in case I lose access to Apple hardware. It is a different kind of monopoly but still monopoly.
So we can throw rocks at Apple they deserve it, but so everyone else. Nobody is doing it right not even Linux and one way or an other you are forced to use everything depends on how you look at it. Either because you are locked in or to avoid to be locked in but you are forced to use what you use.