Does Linux usually need this much troubleshooting?

No, constant breakage isn't inevitable, but there's no distribution that can promise to work perfectly on every machine. Hardware support varies, and graphics drivers and sleep are two areas where particular combinations can be troublesome.

Linux can be stable for everyday use, but a failed automatic update is still a reasonable thing to be unhappy about. Keeping your existing system on the other SSD while you test is sensible. Try your games and sleep repeatedly before deciding whether to switch fully.

I'd separate the two problems before switching distributions. A black screen after an update could involve the Nvidia driver or the graphics stack, while a failed resume may have a different cause. The symptoms alone don't establish either one.

For the startup issue, note the GPU model and exactly what was updated, then look for Fedora guidance on recovering the Nvidia driver. For sleep, include the hardware details and whether the machine resumes if sleep is triggered manually. Those details will help narrow it down instead of guessing.

Linux Mint is worth a look if you want a familiar desktop for browsing and office tasks. Kubuntu is another option if you like KDE. Neither is guaranteed to fix your particular sleep or graphics problem, though, so test on the same hardware before committing.

Check the display features you need too. Multi-monitor setups with different refresh rates and HDR support came up as concerns with Mint.

For gaming, you could also look at Bazzite or another gaming-oriented distribution that offers an Nvidia image. Having the driver included may make setup easier, but it doesn't guarantee that updates or sleep will work on your machine.

Check the specific games you care about before switching. General desktop tasks and gaming compatibility aren't quite the same question.

There's a bit of luck involved with hardware. Some setups run for ages without major trouble, while others have driver or wake issues even with default settings. Windows can have its own problems too, but that doesn't make a Linux install that won't reach the login screen acceptable for your needs.