Linux, like anything in personal computing, can only be experienced in reality. You can study until the end of time, but none of that vicarious experience carries into reality.
In my 25+ years with FOSS, I have actually used (not just played with) a dozen different Linux distros and probably 4 - 5 BSDs. Then I started using Kubuntu about ~12 years ago and have stuck with it as my primary platform. Oh, I do play with various others on my laptop, but it will take something incredibly stupid in halls of Canonical to push me to anything else on my prime machine.
So the OP just has to take whatever advice has been lent, and either throw it out or take a best guess at some product and just dive in. After all, change is possible.