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 If you are looking for just user friendly Linux distro I would recommend PopOS. Their LTS version specifically. Definitely enable automatic window tiling for an awesome workflow improvement experience.  

If you want rock solid security and a reliable long term workstation. I would recommend Alma Linux 9. It is pretty easy for beginners too if you don't need advanced configuration options related to security. 

For a more traditional desktop experience that is highly configurable I would recommend openSUSE Tumbleweed. With KDE for more modern systems and XFCE for systems with less hardware resources. 

If you want to say fuck it all. Dive in deep. Make Linux whatever you want it to be, but it is on hard mode. With the best documentation wiki in the multiverse. I would recommend Arch Linux. 

If you want to say fuck it all. Dive in deep. Make Linux whatever you want it to be, but it is on amateur mode. I would recommend Endeavor OS, because it is pretty much Arch Linux, but ready to go out of the box.  
 I've used arch for years and I swear by it but I'm looking for something to set people up with when they ask me to fix their computers.  By "fix" I simply remove windows.  But perhaps mint isn't the right move 
 PopOS if they are open to trying new things in terms of a desktop environment. It has the easiest out of the box support for hardware drivers. Once you get into it for work, gaming, or entertainment purposes it is hard not to love.

If they are super stubborn almost to the point of what the fuck is wrong with you. Then the  cinnamon desktop environment with the right themes is a excellent choice. Can even trick people into thinking it is windows 10. Debian has a good version of it that is stable and Ive had great experience with senior citizens switching to it. Lasting for several years carefree. 
 Thanks homie 
 You oughta set up a zap address 
 Thanks for the suggestions!

I am looking into Elementary, a colleague has it installed and looks and feels quite nice. Any CONS you know of? 
 Elementary is great if you are coming over from the Apple Mac world. Overall the Pantheon desktop environment chooses very opinioned aesthetics. Pantheon does not adapt well to customization. 

This is for the user that likes things to look visually pleasing minimalism. With an ok work flow that mostly gets out of your way. You want to spend more time in your applications. Due to no real reason, or motivation to tweak anything.

Its not my cup of tea. I always feel like it isn't as fast as other distros. Lacks crucial features that are deal breakers. Can't speak for its overall security either. Plus I love customizing Linux and I feel you can only go so far with Pantheon.

In conclusion it is not the best choice. It is not the worst choice. It is the right choice for ex Mac users only. IMHO. 
 thank you 
 Elementary is very light, minimalistic, gets the job perfecrly done, only issue I have is with the laptop web can, won't recognize it no matter what, had to adapt an external one for work related conference calls 
 Thank you