Although I've used Windows 7 I never ran Windows 7 as I milked my old PCs along on XP until it expired security updates. Once I realized the endless amount of counter measures I would have to take to turn off just the tracking and extra crap on Win8 I realized my time was soon coming to go to Linux.
I had dabbled in Linux, BSD variants and VM's for many years on occasion between 1999-2009 and so I was not completey unfamiliar with its benefits.
But also I was reluctant to try switching over since really Linux took a lot of work back then and game support was slim and hardware issues abounded.
Also just to set up Linux with a useful Desktop Enviroment / GUI was a hassle, fairly technical and buggy. Also just knowing the proper installer, partition method, etc could get very complex.
Now its really not for the most part. Complete Linux Distributions have matured which contain all the needed stuff and install very easy.
Mint and so many other like its base Ubuntu install relatively painlessly (in most cases) and are complete in GUI / Desktop Enviroment, meaning the user can perform any action without using a console (aka terminal, command prompt, shell).
That said it still makes it a whole lot easier for technical issues, customizations, and power-users if you read up a bit and get familiar with Linux and some of the vast power of the terminal commands available, etc.
Also its much faster to do many things and has powerful and fast search and similar functions from the 'shell'. But then again now does Windows if you use Powershell, etc.
As far as Gaming its been pointed out here Linux support has massively increased mostly due to demand and products like Steam. etc.
As far as actually replacing Windows 7 for Windows games if you have a bunch of them and custom setups (of course you do - this is SimHQ!) I wouldn't give up your Windows 7. Nor would I guarantee migrating to later Windows will not make you have to compromise.
Better you get used to having more than 1 machine for that favorite game until eventually you stop playing it or are willing to pay the price of migration.
Personally I echo this:
I'll be going to Linux directly from my gallant Windows 7, rather than have anything to do with Microsoft ever again.
Thats the main reason I switched completely to Linux originally.
But now I actually like it a lot.
I get a lot more done, am more secure and less tracked, etc. I advance in my technical scope and have no lack of freely available tools and software. I don't ever have to search for 'cracks', downloads, etc.
i don't have to really ever 'pay' for any software again, although I can. There are paid software, games, even whole Linux Distros if needed. Heck I can even run Windows in a VM if I ever wanted (no reason to becaause anything you can do with Windows software you can do with Linux, with very few exceptions.
For instance the LibreOffice already installed with Mint is actually superior to MS Office for my uses and I love the Writer which I feel is better than M$ Word.
However I would say although I really think some Linux Distros like Mint are better than Windows and technically superior its not without its trevails. And in all reality these mature systems are somewhat similar in most ways and indeed some of the annoyances.
So for instance if you get 'bugged' by updates on Windows you might be bugged by upadtes on Linux because they occur constainly although you can control and limit them basically better.
And you can use a fixed system also that does not 'upgrade' but is static and either gets security updates or does not and may even be strickly designed for offine use.
Basically a Linux system is not exposed to the countless Windows attacks.
That said any internet facing software like Browsers etc. are the number one targets of exploits and they are vulnerable on Linux also. Just less of the time since many exploits just don't work on Linux.
Same with tracking now. Most tracking comes from your browser, or socail media or apps and Android, your phone, etc. Ultimately since people data is now currency of business we are scr*wd! l..
That said its real nice to fire up my Laptop and know without a single shred of unwanted data connections to the M$ empire.
I don't use ggogle, facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. and I don't miss nor need them.
Those companies can bite the dust and I really won't miss a beat.
Anyway personally my recommend has changed. I'm now in favor of using various machines for various purposes.
If you want a Window 7 machine or other for some reason now is the time.
See my post here at SimHQ about my new $20 Laptop:
Loving Linux Mint Toshiba LaptopsCraigslist or flea market, online you can buy loads of nice ones for dirt cheap since most people will just get another machine. Or rather they are forced to.
And frankly even on Linux you will be forced to upgrade eventually, as that is how the computer market works. Especially if you are a "got to have the lastest' type gamer. I'm not.
Anyhew...