Linux

Sounds like you're just bored. You can try different distros if you want, but they're not significantly different under the hood. They're all still Linux.

Fedora SilverBlue is pretty amazing and stable. Be sure to use flatpaks. Itd an immutable distro so there are some differences in usage. I layer a couple rpms over the base os but other than that its all flatpaks. I love it. I usrd to use regular fedora workstation and before that popos which i also love. Gnome is the way to go... If you like windows style use dash to panel ext and arcmenu and desktop icons ng ext. Nobara is alsp a solid choice if you specifically like to game. You can game on all distros tho. But nobara is super sexy option. Popos is great too. My recommemdation is fedora silverblue.

Hannah Montana or bust

Kde is a good choice if you enjoy configuring you Desktop. Also it works nicely with some extra desktop tools like cairo docks.

When you try KDE yoi should definitly try out KDE Connect, it is a nice way to connect you phone and your Laptop.

If you are just looking for something modern looking, you could also try deepin. (but dont use original distro because of privacy).

EDIT: I think what I’m wanting is something that gets new features more frequently, yet doesn’t become unstable. I feel drawn to the desktop eye-candy that I see getting featured with KDE desktops. I seem to believe I’m missing out on something, but can’t directly state what. Ultimately, I think I simply want to move to a more core/upstream version of Linux so that I get new functionality faster. I’m trying to find what I desperately need but never knew it existed.

Thank you OP for clarifying! Distros that are closer to upstream, but still accomplish 'stability' (often through hand-holding) and on which KDE has great support would be (in alphabetical order):

• Fedora's KDE Spin: Has a semiannual point release cycle, but still continues to get updates to kernel etc almost as soon as they come. Therefore it's sometimes referred to as semi-rolling release. In the middle out of these three in regards to how close it is to upstream.
• openSUSE Tumbleweed: Sets out to be the stable rolling release; thus receiving a constant stream of updates without foregoing stability. Perhaps surprisingly to some, it accomplishes this rather gracefully. Being on a rolling release enables it be the closest to upstream between these three.
• Ubuntu (their KDE flavour is more popularly known as Kubuntu): Also has a semiannual point release cycle, but mostly foregoes updates besides security-related ones and the ones received for snaps. It is the furthest away from upstream out of these three.

A lot more can be said concerning the differences between these three distros. However, working with them either from inside a VM or through a Live USB is probably a lot more valuable. All three are great picks, so you should be fine regardless.

Please feel free to inquire if you so desire!

Most of what you can do with Debian and Fedora, you can also do with Mint. You can even install KDE on Mint, and configure it however you want. Debian is a bit nicer to customize, though, because it's extremely stable and most of its apps keep their "vanilla" configurations, or at least a configuration unlikely to cause bugs.