> Then it would be just another Linux distro of which there are 100s already.
No, it would be a Wayland compositor, which could be made to run on Linux or the BSDs.
> This is a great environment to rapidly prototype new UI features, like it was the first time I saw an OS able to open UI folders and Applications from `ls` output in a terminal.
There's nothing special about this, Enlightenment did it on Linux many years before Serenity even existed.
https://www.enlightenment.org/about-terminology.md
> but it's only targeted for the hobbyist developers building the OS to use and has no plans on becoming an OS for mainstream adoption.
It's such a shame because it could be a great Wayland compositor, and the features you mention could be made to work as a desktop environment.
Why spend years reinventing the wheel when others already did the hard work that they won't be able to replicate in the first place?
It's their time, sure. And they can do wherever they want but it's still wasted effort, whether people admit it or not.
Not even the BSDs are able to compete with Linux on driver's support, what makes people think SerenityOS could?
I also hardly doubt the SerenityOS people don't have any expectations to get at least some adoption, they're wasting their time with their current strategy.