As much as I love it, people are fair to criticize Linux for the time it takes from you. The freedom comes at a cost.

It can be overstated in a sense, but it comes down to the individual/experiment. I've been lucky with mentors. I've saved a lot of time, frustration, and effort that could've otherwise been expelled had things gone differently.

Don't spend too much time bikeshedding is my one piece of advice