I've been on Manjaro now for almost 2 years, doing JavaScript/React/PHP/Ruby/Python work (and some .NET Core with SQL Server!). I use VS Code and Chrome. I listen to music with Spotify. We have Slack. I can remote desktop into Windows machines with FreeRDP.
Recently someone said that they thought they would prefer to try Xubuntu because it had more official support so I decided to compare it to Manjaro and try it out on a spare machine. There's really no comparison. Setting up software on Ubuntu is painful, having to find and add keys to various disconnected software repos for every package. After a week, the Ubuntu installation ate itself after an update and wouldn't boot.
Meanwhile I have 3 workstations running Manjaro (work desktop, home desktop and personal laptop) and they all run perfectly and installing software is as easy as opening Add/Remove Software utility and finding what I want. Everything is there, even my favorite diff util from Scooter Software - Beyond Compare.
With 20.04 imminent, it might be worth giving it another shot in a VM to see if things have changed.
Personally, I used Win10 on my carbon for a while (having previously tried and given up on Linux on a T410) before finally getting tired of the forced reboots, the software auto installs, etc, and giving Ubuntu 18.04 a shot. It isn't perfect (e.g. the fingerprint reader has never worked, and suspend sometimes doesn't work if Bluetooth is turned on) but I was genuinely shocked at how otherwise functional it is out of the box (even the USB C dock works after installing the DisplayLink drivers). Heck, with TLP installed using an out-of-the-box configuration, battery life is better than Windows.
It's at the point where I genuinely prefer it to the Win10 X1C5 I have at work.
It just takes Soo much effort to get things to work. Netflix and deactivate mouse acceleration(which isn't perfect) to name a few.
I love ubuntu server, favorite os of all time. But Linux desktop just isn't anywhere near Windows quality.