I wanted to offer some friendly corrections and context on a few points:

1. Google using Ubuntu on MacBooks
     While there have been rumors and isolated internal reports over the years of various corporate users trying out different Linux setups on Mac hardware, there’s no verified evidence that Google officially used Ubuntu on MacBooks as a standard environment. Google’s internal usage tends to be quite varied and often kept under wraps, so the claim might be more anecdotal than fact-based.

2. Canonical and Ubuntu’s direction
     You mentioned that “not everyone likes what Canonical is doing anymore.” While Canonical’s moves (like the snap ecosystem and various design choices) have sparked debates, many users still appreciate Ubuntu’s focus on ease of use, hardware compatibility, and community support. It’s all about personal preference and the tradeoffs between innovation and long-term support.

3. Fedora’s complexity and documentation
     Saying Fedora is “weirdly more complex” might be an oversimplification. Fedora often targets users who appreciate the latest upstream software and development practices, which can feel more hands-on. Its documentation is actually quite robust and maintained by a passionate community—even if the style and depth might differ from Ubuntu’s more streamlined guides. It comes down to what learning experience you value more.

4. Arch Linux and its learning curve
     Your take on Arch is fair: its wiki is indeed one of the best resources out there, which is why many users swear by it as a learning tool. However, while it’s true that Arch offers a very pure, “vanilla” GNOME (or any desktop environment you set up) experience—similar in spirit to what Fedora might provide—it’s also worth noting that Arch’s philosophy means it won’t hold your hand. For newcomers, that means more risk of “breaking things,” but also an invaluable hands-on learning curve for those willing to dive in.

5. Starting with Ubuntu for hardware compatibility
     The suggestion to use Ubuntu to test hardware support is a practical one. Since Ubuntu has a broad driver base and a large user community, it’s often a good first check for MacBook (and other hardware) compatibility. However, sometimes even if Ubuntu exhibits some quirks, other distros might work just as well or even better depending on the kernel versions, desktop customizations, or community-contributed fixes. A USB Wi-Fi adapter can indeed be a good temporary workaround for connectivity issues if they arise.

In summary, each Linux distribution has its own strengths and challenges. It really boils down to your priorities—whether it’s stability, a polished user experience, cutting-edge software, or a chance to learn more about the inner workings of a system. All these distros contribute to the vibrant, diverse Linux ecosystem, and exploring them is part of the fun!

Hope this helps provide a clearer picture, and just enjoy tinkering with Linux!