Of course you customize your Debian installation over time.

Over time is the key here. A package here, a small config there, and after some time, that installation becomes so unique that it starts reading your mind.

Non-breaking updates is the icing on the cake.

The biggest point is you install Debian once, or when your processor architecture changes.

--Sent from my a 6 year old Debian installation.

Not sure if you mean that sarcastically, but it's a really boring and stable OS, the setup is just a few clicks and hitting enter a few times. I think I haven't even bothered to change the wallpaper on my newest laptop.

There's nothing really special about Debian as well, it could as well be Ubuntu, Mint or anything else that's plug n play. I'm just used to Debian, and it comes with less junk I don't need installed by default.