Using the higher performance Linux specific interfaces like epoll isn't doing it wrong, it is getting the most out of your platform. Perhaps it is doing it wrong to use it directly instead of a library in application code, but someone still has to know enough to write the library.

This sort of comment could be based on real knowledge, but it's hard to tell because you just gave us a conclusion rather than showing us how you came to it. A better comment would add information: give an example or two, tell a story, or say what's behind your thinking somehow.

Where can I find a "UNIX" distribution to try? :-)

Linux are in every android cell phones, PI, pc, etc.