I've been hearing more and more negative things about the new Windows and its privacy issues and with 10 having an end of support date I'd like to change before then...but everything i see about Linux makes it seem like its not something I want. I don't do any work on my computer so customization means nothing to me, its 90% a device for playing games with friends. The issue from this is that a lot of the games I play would need some sort of work around/WINE/other pre-reqs to work and I am too dumb to use a command line. The only thing i ever used it for prior is ipconfig, it doesnt seem very user friendly especially for someone who doesnt work with computers directly.
While I can use a VM for anything that would be on XP and back id have to find the actual game i want to run and download that which can be tricky at best when i already have it on Steam or other library. I have heard Proton or Lutris for running games but those are just words to me and i dont know what they do and it sounds like more junk to use a command line for. Dual booting is also something i would rather avoid as if i need to use windows for something and restart my computer i may as well just use windows anyway. Is it really worthwhile for me to bother with linux for just suck it up and deal with windows and microsoft.
There are Linux distros for people who just want a working computer, and Linux distros for people who want to tinker with things. My Linux Mint computer takes significantly less fussing with than my Windows 10 one. PopOS or Ubuntu should be the same story.
Proton - This is just a menu option buried somewhere in Steam. I had to Google where the menu was. Once it's on, you never have to think about it again.
Command line - You do not have to use command lines to do regular Linux stuff. The place it'll come up is if you want to change some weirdo setting. On Windows you find an article that's ten pages of screenshots telling you which button to press. On Linux you find an article with a bizarre command line that you copy/paste into a terminal.
Dual boot - Dual boot is a security blanket for people who are afraid they won't be able to do everything in Linux. Usually you end up not booting Windows for several months and feeling kind of silly about it.
VMs - Setting up a VM is more complicated than setting up Linux.
My recommendation is always to just pick a friendly distro, make a live USB, and try it for an afternoon. Maybe you hate it. Maybe it doesn't work well on your computer. But I'd say for about 80% of people it's just going to work.