Based on Debian, with just the right amount of user-friendly additions is MXLinux. Coming from Ubuntu, installing MX was particularly easy, the small community is very helpful and knowledgeable, and any quirks Debian might pose to a desktop user seem to have been ironed out.
The link to the github repository: https://github.com/MM2-0/Kvaesitso Kvaesitso has been my launcher for the last 6 months and I’ve been very happy with it. Quite a lot of customization options, but with really well thought-out limitations and restrictions. It is available via F-droid.
Joplin is one of the most important apps I use daily on my Android phone. The desktop version for Linux, an Appimage, synchronizes with the shared database used by the Android app. One can use common cloud services or pay a small fee (now about 18 euros/year) for a specific cloud synchronization service (1Gb).
If best GUI means configurable and pretty, I have not yet found an alternative that can compete with good old Xfce. It is the only modern desktop environment for which I can still modify the theme of the window decorations to my liking. It is fast and stays out of the way. Using it both on Ubuntu and MX Linux, both based on Debian.
Firefox most of the time, replaced by Chrome on one of my configurations, where Firefox would lead to graphic card freezes from time to time. Edge for Teams at work. Opera once in a while because I am nostalgic of the fantastic Opera mini browser on early versions of Android.
Also, Firefox on Android or Fennec on phones without Google Play.
The size and biased selection of the community, as mentioned in the other comments here are the main factor. Reddit is successful for at least two very different reasons, both depending on having a lot of users.
It has an ‘entertaining’ value through various hilarious or story-telling posts, such as those of the TIFU and AMA ones. Importantly, those depend on interactions and comments and ask for them from the beginning (‘ask me anything’).
It has an ‘educational’ value, mostly supported by specialists, sometimes in very narrow fields. The ELI5 posts are particulary interesting because comments can go a long way towards explaining complex issues in mathematics, physics or biology or illuminating little known areas of human history or behaviour.
Having specialists ready to provide thorough explanations about something, celebrities doing AMAs or people ready to expose their mistakes depend on a critical mass of people having adopted a platform. Lemmy is far from being there but I think it grows, like the community using Mastodon. The situation should slowly improve.
Thank you for the update. Somehow the Messagease FR layout is missing from this release. Would it be possible, please, to include it back in the next one ? Thanks.