Because pure Debian never worked with my wifi drivers, and Ubuntu didn't come with video codecs and other small lifestyle tweaks by default. If Debian came wit

Because pure Debian never worked with my wifi drivers, and Ubuntu didn't come with video codecs and other small lifestyle tweaks by default. If Debian came with those OOTB -- and they won't, since some of those codec ain't FOSS -- then I'd agree with you. Like, I ain't crazy about what's happening with Mint and all of their hacks -- trust status: eradicated -- but I certainty get why they exist as a distro.