On YouTube some years ago, there was a kid in Australia who made a series of videos where his Mum would try a different OS in each episode. IIRC, most were Linux distributions.

With respect to computers, people can learn to use anything. With computers, most people exercise little choice. Most do not care about computers or software (i.e., they are not like you, dearest HN reader). These things are just a means to an end. They learn what they are forced to learn to do what they have to do. I once read the majority of "smartphone" owners do not even install any "apps". This sort of indifference is not something the "tech" crowd will ever acknowledge, but that does not make it less real. There is life outside of "tech" hype, lots of it.

In the 1980's I watched many people who cared nothing for computers (i.e., not people like you, HN reader) use text-only programs to get things done. The lack of obsessively manipulative "UI" did not stop anyone from using computers back then.^1 Unlike today, not everyone had to use computers. Those that did used what they were forced to use.

1. I reckon it wouldn't stop them today either, if that was what they were forced to use. But we will never know. For a fun example of how things might have turned out differently, check out this Netflix series from 2018: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniac_(miniseries)