> SteamOS is probably the most commercially well-supported consumer desktop Linux

Yeah, this basically, and they have good hardware too.

> the Chromebook/Android train

I am not really interested in getting back into the google world. If I buy hardware it needs to support a real linux distro.

> putting a community-supported distro on whatever hardware you've got

With the Macbook, my only option is Asahi. If things keep going the way they are going, I may well end up there. But it is 13 inches and I don't love the keyboard.

I would rather something with an 11 inch screen (for travelling) that can drive a full-size monitor when at home. And use the keyboard I like regardless.