I installed Arch Linux and had to learn everything from scratch. I didn't know anything about UNIX, security, config files, environmental variables, compiling code, git, terminals, window managers, ssh, bash scripting, user groups, access control, boot options, or anything else. I wouldn't trade the time I've invested in learning how to operate and customize an open system, but the amount of upfront effort is very intimidating. I can say with confidence that if I hadn't simultaneously developed an obsession with programming that I would have very quickly given up.
> The system came with a reasonable set of defaults and when or if they grew more proficient and wanted to change something about their daily working environment, they had the option to do so.
This is the root of the issue in my mind, what are the 'sane defaults' for a UNIX system to someone completely uninitiated in how software works? There's so much 'don't know what you don't know' for people that only knew Windows and Mac growing up. I can't imagine anyone that doesn't work with computers professionally or as a hobbyist ever thinking that spending years learning open systems is worth the opportunity cost of the other things they could be doing with their lives.