Maybe I'm just not the typical Linux user anymore, but as a user, when I think about what I want feature-wise from software, I think in terms of concrete features: I want X, Y, and Z new functionality. If the developer can "use AI" to power it, fine. If they use traditional algorithms to power it, also fine. If they use literal sorcery to power it, great, I don't care.
At no point in my life have I ever said "I want technology ABC to power features, but I don't really have in mind what those features might be."
But if AI is going to be the new snap, I think more people will switch to Debian despite their ancient kernel and applications.
This isn't as big a problem these days. Most people run the latest LTS of Ubuntu. Until a week ago, Ubuntu LTS was OLDER (in kernel and in software) than the latest Debian release.
In between, Ubuntu has the HWE kernels and Debian usually backports them.
Latest AMD ryzen for example works much better on 7.1
I stayed even as Unity and Gnome 3 made the rounds (which I was also unhappy about), but changed a month ago to a European Linux and Desktop Environment.
But it is because I barely see people.
and why couldn't i just 'apt install' them in myself, if/when i wanted them?