To be clear, are you suggesting Windows is the standard of consistency?

Even modern macs fall short of the UX Apple has traditionally been known for...

Only true if those inconsistencies actually matter to your workflow. Not going to deny that they exist, obviously, but their impact is largely overplayed (and gratuitously downplayed on Windows, in my experience).

Yes Windows also sadly has become very inconsistent.

MacOS is highly consistent compared to Windows.

Perhaps Linux operating systems like Steam or ChromeOS might finally create a beautiful and consistent UI.

KDE is vastly better than Windows already.

Please give an example of an "inconsistency" which makes Linux not a "viable alternative to Windows/MacOS"

Have you worked with windows recently? It basically consists entirely of inconsistensies

Spoken like a true Windows UX aficionado. Who doesn't love multiple system settings apps, a mix of minimal new context menus and overcrowded legacy context menus just one more click away.

> Who doesn't love multiple system settings apps, a mix of minimal new context menus and overcrowded legacy context menus just one more click away.

I get that you're making a Windows joke, but this describes Linux equally well.