It is this little things that made me move away from GNU/Linux as main laptop OS.

The OS is great when it works, but then those little things are always around the corner, turning weekend actions into weeks.

All of my computers run Linux, but that's because I can deal with most of the flaws. This is definitely part of the reason why desktop Linux has never taken off with the general public.

Also, the people who manage Linux distributions seem to absolutely love suddenly getting rid of things that work and replacing them with incomplete alternatives, without any kind of migration of user data and settings. Those alternatives should be pushed out as developer previews until they either

(1) match each and every feature of whatever they are replacing AND capable of importing all settings

OR

(2) warn the user months ahead of time with a list of features that are going to disappear in the replacement

OR

(3) provide an easy, 1-click option to let the user continue using whatever they were using as their default, with continued support and updates

Indeed.

But it is still my main OS everywhere, I refuse to bow to proprietary overlords. Despite these downsides.

I started working when proprietary overlords was the only option available, so it doesn't matter me that much.

What you mean?

I too perform work for enterprises, getting payed to work with and in all things Linux, Java and Python.

Just because its freedom software doesnt mean there is no money to be made or make.

I mean when I started working there wasn't open source as such.

Maybe the local computer club or some rich guys that could pay for BBS connections exchanging stuff.

Everything from hardware, text processing, drawing, music, compilers, editors,..., was provided by proprietary overlords.

Oh, you are ancient - respect!

I had luck, started around 1999 when RedHat 6.2 existed, with gcc, all from a free book and CD from the public library.

Years ago it didn't take me that long to get PulseAudio setup to play from my HTPC through my laptop (so that I could use the headphone jack on the laptop). That said, it wasn't plug-and-play. I didn't use it too often because there were too many moving parts every time I wanted to get it setup (i.e. setup the laptop to receive audio, then get the HTPC to connect to the laptop and send audio... then disable it all to get things back to normal afterwards).

What would have been preferable would be for the HTPC to advertise itself as a audio source, and the laptop to be able to list sources, and let the use select one.