If they are “the same in this particular sense” then use that language instead. In no other context do people use the phrase “these are the same” meaning “these have something in common.” I wouldn’t defend the phrase “Galas and Fijis are the same” because of their similarities any more or less than if I were to compare apples and oranges. I’d say they’re both apples or they’re both fruit or any number of specific descriptors that they actually share.

It seems to me that if people are using this language as you suggest then they should communicate more clearly, or, more likely, this isn’t what they mean.

I don’t use Linux. I’m here from /all. I last attempted Linux probably around 2006 or so. The biggest thing I remember was driver support being awful. I guess it’s a lot better now?

My biggest hurdle to making the switch is that it takes effort. It’s not because I’m lazy; it’s because I don’t see any need to put in effort. Because I already have an OS, and it works fine. I know that to some, particularly in this community, there are a lot of things about Windows to complain about, but the vast majority of users can’t come up with a list of things that bothers them about their daily OS. If my computer already had Linux on it, I’d probably feel exactly the same way.