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Windows doesn't work for everybody either, and I do mean actual problems with Windows not working, even pre-installed from the factory. I don't even have to look outside the circle of people I know in person to have seen this. Googling for Windows not working with $X specific laptop instantly reveals quite a treasure trove beyond the people I know, where $X can be pretty much any Windows laptop. Everything from finge…
I don't mind building my own drivers (in fact I maintain one[1]), but I would never expect the average person to have to do that. It would be entirely unreasonable.
But, the vast majority of linux users don't have to compile any drivers. Unless you have some obscure piece of hardware or one that is so new that the driver isn't mainlined yet, you don't have to worry about it.
You say you've been using linux for 20 years. which driver(s) in the last 5 or so years have you had to compile yourself?