I had a very similar experience a few years ago. For four years, I didn’t use Linux and only MacOS for very similar reason (also because my Linux laptop broke and my work paid for the mac).
I suffered and, a couple of years ago, I went back to Linux. First with a cheap laptop that was not powerful enough to be really useful then I invested in a Thinkpad.
And, suddenly, I realized how much I despised Mac. How much all the bugs were frustrating, how much all the shiny features were distracting. Free software is part of my identity, part of who I’m. It’s essential and I feel like I was hurting myself for not being home.
I agree that computing should not be an aimless hobby. There should be a goal. I now earn a living through teaching about free software. I’ve always been an activist about privacy, software freedom. Being on MacOS made me an hypocrit. Also, I hated the system. Apt-get, how I missed you!
But if it’s not part of your identity, if you are not enjoying the learning, if you don’t have any goal related to it, computing for the sake of computing is pure emptiness. Better shut down the laptop as soon as you earned your day.
Ploum,
I am glad people like you exist! Advocacy for free software and privacy makes the world a better place.
And now, it's offline time for me :)