Nice write up. Hope we both will be fine with our installations =)
Regarding “new user” - that’s true, e.g. average person has much steeper learning curve than software dev, DIY enthusiast playing with Arduino or gamer who has his own server for favorite game in the cloud and etc. They might be all “new” to Linux as desktop OS, but not on the same start line.
Though looking at EndeavourOS and recalling my experience with Mint and Ubuntu, it might be possible to have windows like (when it comes to easy to use) installation\configuration and experience out of the box.
The game is what others said and as for what it is it’s pretty unique series and good game. But as you said - you can’t see it’s appeal right away, maybe you are like me and this game will be just boring for you. I tried to play it on PC for more than ten or even twenty hours, with friends and alone. Just doesn’t click.