It's a choice between arbitrary changes and constant redesigns every 4-5 years, versus bare-bones distros and DEs.
The parent asks for a third option: well featured, mature, distros that don't change for the sake of it, but still have the features.
I’m arguing this niche barely exists. Folks who want to run modern software tend to want something that “looks” modern.
Looks that way because nobody asked them, and marketing types and designers decide for them...
