You can install a sysvinit based stock debian if you wish. I've done it a few times recently, on low memory systems (<512MB) it does make a noticeable difference. It's mostly supported in terms of running, though the install is a bit manual:

https://wiki.debian.org/Init

There's also instructions for converting a running system, but I've had no luck with that. It just resulted in an unbootable system for me as it couldn't fully remove systemd there.

edited post, didn't mean that I have a problem with systemd, just all the extra stuff that canonical has created as "launch on boot" daemons/services which are unique to ubuntu only and no other linux.

Very frustrating just how much CPU/memory a blank Ubuntu install uses while idle vs Debian. For largely the same resulting system. I always prefer Debian because of crap like that.

There's also Devuan - https://www.devuan.org/ - A debian Frok without systemd. Don't know how well maintained it is though.

Devuan is an option too. It's Debian without systemd and gives the choice of SysVinit, OpenRC or runit.

I personally have a few years of good experience with Void Linux.

Sure but systemd doesn't bother most people. Some of the arch based options also let you get away from systemd without a whole lot of effort.