@kevinrenskers - I just switched my daily driver from mac to linux.
I switched from Windows to Mac when the Mac mini first came out. Mine was the first one sold in Germany (out of a first-day shipment of six :-)
For Messages, consider Signal. Similar integration on mobile and desktop: text, call, and video.
My big hurdle was Photos. Digikam works for me now.
Still, some things don't work, yet. Bit once I figure it out, they will.
I've felt for years that macs have been deteriorating ever faster, with no solution in sight.
Feels good now.