The issue with Linux is it's not really needed for the average user

You say that now but just wait until microsoft finally pisses you off enough that...

and sort of a pain in the ass to learn how to do basic tasks

It'll be worth it to learn a new ecosystem just to escape their hell. Btw had you started on linux, or if you switched to mac, or from android to iPhone or vice versa, you'd still have to learn the new ecosystem, the difficulty isn't actually "linux hard" because it is no longer 2004, the difficulty is "learning different thing harder than not." Fortunately for me Microsoft kept changing so much and making me relearn how to do things so often I figured out that I might as well switch if I'm already relearning.

Using Linux just for bragging rights when you can do the same thing easier on another OS is just lame in my opinion

I'd agree with that. However learning linux for control of your own device, privacy, freedom, and QOL improvements because the other OS has enshittified itself so hard it's barely recognizable? That's just smart. Using the shit OS and going "pwease daddy micwosoft stop putting sand in my eye" is lame, in my opinion.

I may change over one day but I would have to start using computers in my personal time more or it would be if I needed to change over for work. I work in IT. It's not my passion, it's a job. The last thing I want to do is hop on my computer in my free time.

Fair enough honestly lol. Hell most people these days only use their smartphones. But for those who do use computers at home and also complain about windows, there's one and a half exits, either spend the money to get into the other spyware ecosystem but apple gets your data and controls your device, or get the one that is free and you control yourself. For me the choice is clear.

I'm in no way shitting in Linux or their users,

I'm definitely shitting on windows lol, but their users I understand, frog boiling and such.