I suspect part of the issue here is that if they indicate which HW variants are better-supported under Linux explicitly, it suddenly becomes 'just buy that lapt

I suspect part of the issue here is that if they indicate which HW variants are better-supported under Linux explicitly, it suddenly becomes 'just buy that laptop configuration from Clevo/Sager/etc.' and they are back where they started. It's also possible the exact ordering combination is custom from Sager/Clevo and available only because they buy in larger bulk, or some parts are removed/replaced after the fact of course. Disclaimer: typing this on my work machine, which happens to be a System76 laptop. Mine came with Ubuntu, and a special System76 PPA for what appears to be firmware reasons. Also, with a higher-end config I don't recall the Sager/Clevo options I saw being much cheaper, if at all. The comparable ThinkPad was more money, though it did include some things I didn't actually need (mainly something more than Intel graphics) -- could've been nice, might've been annoying per the other Optimus complaints I recall seeing recently.