Windows changing UI so often did soften the learning blow for me, when moving to Linux.

Especially nowadays on Linux where you I've only "needed" terminal for getting a graphics tablet to map and for a video card update. (I'm willing to ignore software development going to terminal, since serious software development usually goes to terminal on windows anyways) .

XFCE is quite good at being XP/2000 era gui. The version I'm using is practically XP except with local software search and workspaces.