Comment I have seen other things come and go (Score 1) 826
My strategy:
a) Install distribution according to purpose (default: debian, laptop: ubuntu, server/with supported commercial sw configurations: red hat) out of the Box
b) Verify if additional features needed are there
c) Add the features you really need which are missing
d) If it does not work, follow the documentaiton
e) If following the documentaiton does not work withing a reasonable time, change distribution to a more conservative one and repeat from step a
f) perform testing
g) optimize performance (up to compiling a new kernel)
Has served me well the last 20 years. If i need knowledge about systemd, i hope its documented well, otherwise its off the list.