Clear Linux was maintained by Intel and specifically tuned to Intel hardware. The speed enhancement it has over other distros is only possible on a very limited set of hardware.

Which is why I moved to Debian/Ubuntu based and haven’t looked back. But functionally, nearly every distro has a different strength and purpose, so go with whatever piques your interest.

I’m a recent convert from Mint Cinnamon to Kubuntu. I would definitely recommend it for being user friendly.