"Device drivers" are mostly coming from Linux to UNIX via FreeBSD rather quickly. Regarding software and desktop environments, I wouldn't know which of those (except systemd which you really shouldn't use anyway) was exclusive to Linux. Depending on your "workflow", the answer to better alternatives may vary. All systems have a different set of applications available.

(18-03-2019, 11:27 AM)Igrom Wrote: In your opinion, what will I gain by switching to something else

The fruits of the UNIX philosophy, not the wannabe-Windowsyness (I just made that word up) of the GNU/Linux community, gradually replacing "one tool for one purpose" by "let's just have one tool that does everything", like systemd (a giant piece of garbage which absorbs most of the core system daemons) and GNU Emacs (a Lisp Machine emulator that comes with an editor module, a mail client, several games, a terminal emulator - and can even be used as a window manager today).

(18-03-2019, 11:27 AM)Igrom Wrote: and which alternatives do you favour?

Honestly, it depends.

• The true UNIX philosophy lives on in Plan 9, UNIX's original successor, and its modern distribution 9front. It won't work as a good daily driver though: no "modern" web browser is available for it (yet?).
  
• illumos (a continuation of OpenSolaris) is the only true free System V UNIX. I use its distribution OmniOS on one of my servers and I'm quite happy with it. OpenIndiana happens to be a decent desktop distribution, although it has its very own weirdnesses (and a unreliable website). On any illumos distribution you have access to large parts of the pkgsrc software repository as well.
  
• OpenBSD, a derivative of the BSD operating system, is a fine daily driver for laptops. You might want to try it.

Linux is a very disappointing environment in many, many ways. Admittedly, sometimes it is your best choice - not for gaming (although it is much better than OpenBSD for that, it still is way behind Windows), but e.g. for closed source drivers. I own, among others, a Gentoo Linux machine (switched from Void a while ago) - the ath10k WiFi firmware is not available on UNIX/BSD just yet.

(18-03-2019, 11:27 AM)Igrom Wrote: what is outside of my reach that I may not know about?

A well-thought operating system where the kernel and the userland were actually made by the same people.