Ubuntu stopped being the lightweight Linux distro, and Linux Mint filled the gap it left behind
(www.xda-developers.com)
In fact, there wasn't a lot of options for a desktop-focused Linux.
You got it right, here. I used Ubuntu 20 years ago because it was the only Linux distro I found that gave a GUI at all out-of-the-box on an average consumer video card. I still dual-booted for games, OFC.