I am just about to set up my new Linux machine, which will be used to convert analog video and audio to digital video and audio. Is there any reason why I shouldn't run the system off of a live USB stick (say, a good quality one from Sandisk), that is, without installing Linux on the hard drive and not setting up a boot partition, a system partition, and all that?
You can configure a lighter-weight setup (lxde, xfce, maybe mate, mint) so that it writes only if you do some writing. And also mount options to cache for a minute or so, for the smaller writes. But you better have some RAM then, for Firefox in memory/tmpfs. And compiling larger software will destroy your stick.
Also keep in mind, that thumbdrives are relatively cheap is, because it's flash memory is one step in quality before defetctive. Also no wear leveling.