I’m no expert, but is it possible you had an Xbox one controller, and didn’t have the correct driver? A quick google indicated that it took the xpadneo driver.

I really liked A Canticle for Leibowitz. Feels like it doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. It’s really charming.

In my limited experience, there are basically two flavors of Linux:

1. Latest software, everything’s available but it breaks a lot.
2. Doesn’t update frequently, might have to be cautious with third-party software but very stable.

As I’ve gotten busier, my preference for stable distros like Debian has grown. I think there’s also a lot of value in trying for due diligence the first time you install a distro. It’s much simpler to take the time and do it correctly than to try and fix it afterwards. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get everything set up correctly, but it’s worth it long term.

I know it isn’t really the point, but your setup is so visually pleasant. Very aesthetic.