OpenSUSE, Fedora, maybe Ubuntu. I’d avoid immutable style distros like bazzite. They make things easier at the beginning but have other downsides where “normal” solutions need additional steps.

But evaluating the equipment is the best part of it. I want to use what I think is best for me, not someone else!

Same here. Daily business I have to push me to get through the work. Major outage and everyone runs around like headless chicken? I’m the one keeping it cool and organising that everything comes back.