LMDE exists as the DR plan for if Ubuntu loses the plot again and Mint can no longer rely on Ubuntu as the upstream. Yes it does create extra work, which is one of the reasons why LMDE releases tend to lag behind the primary Mint Cinnamon, but it’s worth it from the Mint perspective to have an alternative route immediately to hand.
LMDE exists as the DR plan for if Ubuntu loses the plot again and Mint can no longer rely on Ubuntu as the upstream. Yes it does create extra work, which is one of the reasons why LMDE releases tend to lag behind the primary Mint Cinnamon, but it’s worth it from the Mint perspective to have an alternative route immediately to hand.
Yes, I understand this point. LMDE is the backup plan, but is it actually inferior to regular Mint based on Ubuntu? If not LMDE could be default Mint.