What we're doing inherently requires deep integration up and down the stack. We'd still have to be doing OS-level work even if we used another operating system. But then we'd be at the mercy of upstream of accepting patches, or keeping our own fork, and at that point, you're basically at the same spot we are now, but with less overall control.

RFD 26 talked about the context around this choice: https://rfd.shared.oxide.computer/rfd/0026

There's a lot more to it than just this one thing I mentioned :)