"new kid on the block"? Erm...

Do you watch Inkbox by any chance?

Inkbox's DOS video

Newisher:
FreeDOS: Initial release 16 September 1994
Linux: Initial release September 17, 1991

If the day ever comes that I end up in possession of a healthy late 20th century laptop, I'd genuinely consider putting FreeDOS on it. Not least because I threw away my customised MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.11 floppies years ago (a regrettable decision).

For later hardware, I think I'll stick with Linux.

For a middle ground, I seem to remember Puppy Linux, which is designed to run on more limited hardware, runs most things as root. (Though maybe they've changed that in the intervening years. Correction welcome).

The real gigachads are running TempleOS and you know it

Oh hi there.

I'm waiting for the Rust re-write.

We know that the chosen one is out there, they have yet to make themselves known.

I didn’t even know you guys had internet, good for you

Rust has nothing on HolyC

laughs purrs in AROS