required to use windows for work (the software I produce must run on desktop windows machines), and only have my personal PC to do work with. I'd like to have money for a second machine but I don't.

The thing with the linux community, is that once linux covers 90% of the perceived use-cases for a desktop/laptop/workstation computer, it really feels like it should be enough to see a big switch. We can relax, right? But that 10% of use cases where windows is the /only/ option is the other 90%.