The branding, wallpapers, installation procedure, and evangelist noise is all gone on day one. What affects your daily experience the most is: What software you can install, how new it is, and how reliably it updates.

-That's the repository.

If the repo doesn't have it, you're stuck with Flatpacks, AppImages, Snaps, Random GitHub scripts, PPAs, AUR roulette, or compiling from source (which has many drawbacks -it's not simply a bother).

They determine how new your software is (risk tolerance vs features vs your tech/change phobia).

Most differences people argue about are cosmetic or philosophical. The repo is the functional difference.

-Imagine it being this simple! And now that you know; you don't have to distrohop forever to figure out they ALL suck!