I am not changing to linux yet because of gaming.
I was doing the same thing, but it's a whole new world out there because of Proton. I play flight sims and niche old games. I just tried dipping my toes into moving to Linux again after a longer stretch of Windows usage.
This 15 year old flight sim called Il-2 1946 runs way better on my Linux desktop with zero configuration than on Windows. On Windows it was a bitch to start up, it crashed all the time, I couldn't switch windows to put on music, the loading screens were choppy and froze now and then... on a fresh openSUSE install it just works. It's fast and neat and clean.
My flying setup, joystick, throttles, pedals work just as fine. The only thing I'm worried about is Microsoft Flight Sim, but I'm more of a DCS person anyways. Apparently the Steam Deck has 10k games released for it, it will last me for a while.
I also use open source options whenever they fulfills my needs. I am not changing to linux yet because of gaming.
I grew up relatively poor, so burning cd-s for each other and trading games was the jam when I was in school. Games I usually still pirate and even when I buy them I have already tried them to an extent, or finished them 5 times. Steam sales are a godsend for multiplayer only titles tho. I have nothing against supporting devs. But ubi, ea and those responsible for games with 0 content and giant day1 patches, season passes and all that crap can get fucked.
I rather spend that money on zero knowledge mail and vpn, maybe a donation to foss devs for things that I can't live without anymore. I need to get into the habit of donating some at least. Now that I am out of the financial danger zone.
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