There is one M$ development.
There is one O$X development.
There are myriad independent developers of Linux distros. Let's call them Geeks. Many of them feel they must write the code so non-Geeks can be weaned from M$ "easily". And many of the Geeks are not weaned themselves.
Me, I started with Linux because I couldn't afford COA's. I blunder through it.....don't ask the forums anything.....and "carry on". (note: I don't care for "solutions" starting with the word SIMPLY") and I like the terminal.
I prefer:
1. Anti-x MX16. (lightest footprint and works down to CF-29 and below.)
2. LMDE2
3. Zorin except for the fact that it is based around Ubuntu Xenial . And ZORIN is not finished yet. They admit it and more power to them.
4. Mint 18.1 for CF-31 Sound issue.
5. Old PorteusLinux for CF-M34. (PlopLinux in the menu):)
Note #1 and #2 are Debian based.
Shawn and I have been grabbing packages here and there for things we like, to tweak our favorites the way we want. (Shawn the hacker)
FWIW
CF-27 (XP/DOS), CF-28, CF-29, CF-30, CF-31, CF-51, CF-52, CF-53, CF-M34, CF-19. ONE working W7 on a CF-30....etc.