content: While I agree with you on not starting off with Arch linux, an arch based distro can still be noob friendly. Manjaro and Antergos are some examples. I've started people of on just a vanilla install of Arch as well after showing them how to search for programs with on command. The people over at Manjaro have made a GUI front end for searching that is like synaptic as well.  Given the existence of the EvoLution installer, I'd say the comparison for vanilla arch is more like learning to drive a standard car vice an automatic.  That being said, anyone who is not good with computers in general (elderly, handicapped, or non tech savvy) should not use vanilla arch.  I am not a fan of "the arch way" at all. I think that elitism is counter to the core ethos of Linux. I'm trying to get a friendly arch community off the ground over at /v(r)/positivearchlinux for anyone who's interested.