Which Linux Distribution Should I Choose?

I recommend checking out Linux Mint. It's super user-friendly, with GUI tools for everything you might need. Also, Fedora Workstation is a great option if you're looking for a more modern and polished experience. Just keep in mind that Linux is a bit different from Windows, so give yourself some time to adjust.

Honestly, the distro you pick isn't as crucial as it seems. It mostly affects your package management and default apps. CachyOS is more about marketing than actual performance. I think Mint is solid for your needs, but also consider trying out Bazzite since it’s geared toward gaming and is pretty user-friendly.

If you’re comfortable building PCs, you’ll be fine with Linux! You can definitely run Steam, Discord, GIMP, and even .exe files using Proton or Lutris. Mint is a good first choice since it's familiar, but I'd skip CachyOS for now. My advice is to try out a few distros in a virtual machine first to see what you like best!

For what you described, Ubuntu would definitely be a solid bet. It has a big support community, and all your applications should work without issue. You can run those .exe files using tools like Wine or Lutris. If you want a polished experience, Fedora could also be worth a look, but it has a smaller app repository.

I went with Linux Mint when I switched, and I never looked back. It's quite straightforward for day-to-day use, and there’s plenty of community support.