Greetings
@isolated1 and welcome to the Linux forum.
Have you looked at Linux Mint?
I 87 years old and find it difficult to understand why people think that Linux is not easy to download and install. I have found that Linux Mint is easy to install and ready to go out of the box.
With Linux, a person does not have to use the command line to install and use many of the different distributions of Linux available.
Is there a learning curve when switching to Linux? Of course there is.
Is there a learning curve when setting up Windows 11 the first time? Of course there is.
You mentioned - "
Why don't they make a new distro of Linux that's as easy to install, use, and download programs as Windows?" My opinion is that the 'illusion' that it is easy to install, use, and download programs as Windows is just that - an 'illusion'. People have been fed the idea that Linux is difficult and Windows is easy. That idea is false. {I have been using Windows since 1995 and did not know of Linux until about 5 years ago. Since that time I have been using Linux Mint on all my computers - 4 desktops, 1 Apple laptop, 2 Win. laptops and an Asus notebook.}
I bought a refurbished Dell desktop a few weeks ago that came with Windows 11 installed on it. In order to use it I had to go online and find some 'helpful' instructions.
Installing programs on Linux is much easier than with Win 11. Open 'Software Manager', click on the install button, and start the program. I don't know how it could be any easier.
Please notice the absence of any reference to the 'command line' to install a program.
So if you have not done so, please grab a copy of Linux Mint, install it, and use it til your heart's content. Remember, it is free for you to use or give away to anyone else.
My usual rant when I hear someone talk about how difficult it is to learn how to use Linux.
Just an old geezer
Tango Charlie