Linux is Linux. The differences largely come down to packaging and release cadence. You never really have upgrade difficulties with Arch due to the rolling release model as long as you are updating pretty regularly. On other distros, it’s not uncommon to deal with release upgrades that can be a little more involved. The other advantage to Arch is the repository and AUR. You can install just about anything with one command/click.

Personally, I think Arch is the easiest distro to use once it’s installed. I was a Debian user before Arch for mostly the same reason - it’s so easy to install software because the repository is huge. Being on Mint, you have access to a lot. Just imagine having access to even more but needing a little more knowledge to get started and that’s Arch.

I think my issue with Mint is the small team maintaining the cinnamon fork that clearly can't keep up with the desktop.

Otherwise mint is functionally Ubuntu. I preferred Debian for my stable stuff. I like arch currently because PKGBUILD was acomparatively easy package format to learn and modify. Rolling is nice but I've used Debian extensively as well.

I don't like other distros that include lots of programs out of the box. I might need an office program, a music player, etc. But I want to choose it all myself.

I like KDE, but I also like some gnome applications, and it's difficult to find a distro that only installs one or the other.

I find it easier to start from scratch: Give me a basic desktop environment, a terminal, and I know how to take it from there.

The rolling packages are a nice touch. As a linux gamer, any bit of free performance I can get from simply installing an update is appreciated.

pacman.

Arch and Gentoo have IMO the best documentation ever and you learn a lot when you try using either of those distributions as you have to do everything from scratch starting from a minimal system. Since you're saying you're new to Linux though, I'd say you should start with something more user-friendly like Mint or Ubuntu (or even Manjaro if you want a rolling release distro) and stay away from Arch and Gentoo in the beginning.

Just to chime in, I first tried arch because some youtuber I followed recommended it, but after 5 years I would say I've stayed with it for the AUR and the community. The AUR has almost every app I've ever needed, and whenever I have a problem there's always a solution on one forum or another, to the point where I can usually just copy and paste it into the terminal and it's solved!

Customization, lots of apps (via aur), no bloat

minimalism

@jackpot For me personally, I've found that XFCE on Arch runs faster & uses less resources compared to XFCE running on mint, Debian, or Ubuntu. Debian will always be my No.1 fav Linux distro, but for now I'm on Arch, even if I'm not really using the aur for anything other than nvidia drivers. Arch probably won't be permanent, but for now I'm loving it, & switching back to Debian will eventually happen. Just not yet....

The AUR

Arch teaches you about the inner workings of Linux. Mostly because it breaks all the time and you have to fix it.

I use Crystal Linux, which is Arch based.

I've tried Mint along with 10 other distros. What I liked about Arch is:

• Latest Kernel, always. This means new drivers, better support for your current devices and support for more devices. Security & performance patches.
• AUR. Massive repo of user submitted apps & libs most not found elsewhere.
• Arch WiKi. Everything you will need or want to do somebody else already did and documented it so everyone else can have a guide to do it. Best documentation site ever.
• Arch Repo. Always the latest Software. Officially maintained apps and libs land first on Arch, Debian & Ubuntu derivatives take ages to catch up in comparison.