I've been using Linux as my daily driver for over a decade. I used to really fight things like multiple monitors, but things for better.

My current laptop is an HP Envy from Costco and I was kind of shocked that everything just worked, even the fingerprint reader.

And then it happened - one day my brightness keys quit working. Why? I have no idea and haven't spent time to find out. You are correct, it still happens, but it has been rare for me where it used to be common.