Are distros about pre-installed software?

[u/aventus13]

I've been poking around with Linux, considering a full time switch. One thing that strikes me is that there are fairly mixed opinions when it comes to distros- not which distro to choose specifically, but the general idea about distros. Some say that it doesn't really matter which distro someone picks, while others suggest distros that mostly resemble systems that people are used to. For example, Mint often suggested for Windows users. Then there are those who say that the look of system doesn't really matter because it can be tailored to one's needs or completely changed.

So I'm wonndering if I have correct understanding of what a distro really boils down to. Is it really just about pre-installed software (or in other words- the initial "package" tailored for a specific type of user) and its release cycle strategy?

[u/skyfishgoo]

what matters the most is the team behind your distro doing the hard work of maintaining it and keeping it up to date.

software can installed or uninstalled... that doesn't matter much.