Mint is just an optimized ubuntu, you can install and use E17 if you
want a simple attractive gui, with the benefits Mint supplies
working under the hood.
That I did not know.
I'll have to take a further look.
Personally, Ubuntu is the only Linux based OS I've ever felt like retaining (and I've tried lots of OS').
So now I've got another Linux variant and AROS to try.
You guys are keeping me busy.