To get a basic set up not to hard. I've used linux exclusively, with the 'exception' of chromebooks in the last year. I put that in quotes because it's a linux box. There are a couple purpose built boxes out there designed to run linux. That is boxes that mostly cost $1500+ and chromebooks. You just won't get a better linux experience for $300 than a chromebook.

Even when you get a purpose built box, like the xps, they end up having wifi driver issues for years or whatever.

Claiming you don't own a chromebook is strange to me. If you put crouton on it, you root it as your first step. I root mine anyways as part of setup since they have a bash shell. The code is open and you have root on the box so what is it that you don't own?

It's great if you can pay 2k for a laptop and own the whole thing, but there are a lot of people who might want a box that is 300 and they can own the whole thing and I think a chromebook gives them that option.

Did you manage to buy this machine without paying the Microsoft levy?

One of the few things I like with Chromebooks is that you don't pay a license for software that's bundled with it.

I don't know how the price is calculated behind the scenes. I paid a total of $1,900 and am happy with what I got for that price. I completely deleted Windows 10 when it arrived and installed GNU/Linux.

You do pay for Chromebook software with your data.