I used to do this, and it meant I'd hold onto old habits and never used my current OS how it was intended.

This wasnt just for Linux either, I'd try using Win95 like 3.1, I'd try using XP like 98, I'd try using win 8 like 7, I'd try using OS X like Windows and I'd try using Linux like OS X or like Windows.

When I decided to learn the OS I was using (which didn't take much effort, but was a bit of a conscious decision) I had a much better time, less frustrated and more comfortable.

That would always be my recommendation to anyone switching OS (Or DE) learn it the way it was intended and you'll have a much better time

I wish I could tweak Win 11 to look like Win 7. The only improvement since then was putting the Folder Up button back and adding tabs to Explorer, everything else is worse.

Being comfortable with something is overrated, try new things and see what clicks for you. I never understood the "it's what I'm used to" thing, that just drives me crazy because you are so aware of the issues and there's never any excitement and interest of discovery. And I don't mean that you need to change everything all the time, I very much have specific things that I go to great lengths to have but I have those because I've found them and nothing else has come close to feeling as good.