Really...why did they leave?

Linux distros often only set speaker volume to 60~70%, as in days gone by, complaints were raised about the volume being set at 100% out of the box.

Two possible solutions, external speakers or headphones.

Also, as suggested, bluetooth speaker, the one that I bought for £14 off the internet is way too loud for me, if I don't adjust the volume down in Linux before pairing it to my computer.

Raspberry Pi SBCs can run Devuan &/or MX Linux, doesn't need to be using RaspiOS (systemd) on them.....

.....& I thought we were the only ones to think that....

Maybe - https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linux-uni … -in-linux/

or - https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install- … e-on-linux

or - https://www.linuxoperatingsystem.net/lo … -in-linux/

I did
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install usrmerge
Then manually changed daedalus to excaliber in /etc/apt/sources.list
Then
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade
That worked for me.

Basically, desktop users don't need what systemd is about, it is really something that admins find useful, (so I have read).

I don't want or need it, therefore choose to use distros which don't force its use.

(I started using Linux full time in 1999, when we were only just getting to have GUIs, & was still connecting to the internet via a modem over phone lines.)

Nothing wrong with Excaliber, installed to about 5 machines, only issue that I found was that the 'Live' wouldn't install grub to UEFI systems, (worked for MBR), but the 'Desktop' version got them up & running OK.

P.S. I even did an upgrade of one system without much bother, (down to Debian having changed things).

Could partly be due to what kind of files, & how exactly they are being copied, i.e. via cable, or external drive, etc.

How are the drives set up, using PCie socket, & what speed it is capable of, etc.

They will still be out there!

Just choose a system, & use safe practices, keep up to date, don't download anything from untrusted websites, etc.

I've been using Linux full time since 1999 without issues, the maintainers are very good at keeping us users safe.

Seems to just be making it more complicated for newbies.....it's all very well if you know your version, but what about those who don't?