Ubuntu LTS + a few carefully selected apps as upstream APT repositories or PPAs is the best of both worlds; solid predictable base and the latest software where

Ubuntu LTS + a few carefully selected apps as upstream APT repositories or PPAs is the best of both worlds; solid predictable base and the latest software where it matters: Chrome & dev tools in my case. Except for the browser and local dev tools, I don't think I miss or have any use for desktop software. Everything from music (the Spotify web player is excellent, if little known), videos, calendars to email all happen in the browser these days, making it easier than ever to switch to Linux even as desktop usage declines. Increasingly the OS should fade to the background instead of trying to woo with apps or functionality. You don't have to provide an office suite or an email client at all, and I think it would be interesting to see what a distro could do with that kind of sharp focus. I think the core apps of say GNOME, while of generally good quality, probably see fairly limited use in practice. Personally I look forward to not having to think about the OS until the next LTS in a few years time. It's a great environment for getting stuff done.