Driver code is still there, you can add it back if you want, same with ide drivers and such, support was removed but code still exists, just add it and compile your own kernel, there are alot of tutorials in internet about it
If you wanna flash Android phone, or resurrect usb flash, then you’ll NEED windows, I’ve been daily driving Linux for 8 years myself, but sadly, some specific software don’t work under wine and if you run it in virtual machine then you’ll never know what’ll happen, may as well brick device you’re flashing
Debian became more polished and user friendly, you can check YouTube reviews of Debian 12, and yes) i think you should try mint Debian first because of mint flavours i only tried standard mint and don’t know how mint Debian edition do
Are you me from 8 years ago?) Keep it up) it’ll help you to gain knowledge and as you’ve said someday you’ll want your pc to just work) 8 years ago I’ve started to use Linux and did alot of distro hopping, and 5 years ago i installed arch, and now i trying Debian)
It didn’t felt like that, it was like that, coming from personal experience, I’ve finished college and enrolled to university and soon will be getting diploma, and I’ve tried to go to school and college where i was, and you know what, it’s rarely in your whole life that you can see such rude people, they called me alot of slurs, implied that I’m couldn’t make it (as they always told me) and praised bullies that was studiying with me in college and school and dropped out of university