Linux Mint's Secret Weapon: Is LMDE 7 Poised to Take Over?

Linux Mint is adding OEM support to LMDE 7, its Debian-based edition previously considered a mere emergency fallback. This unexpected move fuels speculation about Mint's future strategy. Some users are dissatisfied with Canonical's direction for Ubuntu, particularly regarding Snap packages and telemetry. LMDE, being pure Debian, avoids these issues. The addition of OEM support suggests LMDE might be groomed for a larger role, potentially even replacing the Ubuntu-based Mint as the primary distribution. The development is significant and could reshape the Linux desktop landscape.