Arch has a philosophy that is about growth and development through self-reliance. While some people have translated that into elitism, I don’t see it that way. I am not saying there aren’t Arch elitists out there. I just don’t think they make the core group of Arch experts.
It isn’t the Arch experts who brag about using Arch or getting Arch installed. The Arch experts don’t really see it as an accomplishment. Following the Arch wiki to do your install isn’t all that hard or all that educational. It doesn’t prove anything except that you are capable of reading and following instructions.
The thing is, installing it is only the starting point. Following the installation guide gives you a basic CLI system. The learning comes from building out your system successfully from that point. Taking an empty shell of a CLI system and turning it into a desktop system that you built from the ground up is an accomplishment if you have never done it before.
That being said, not everyone wants to do it and not everyone has the base knowledge to do it. The important part is accepting that it is OK to not care or not be able to do that. Running EndeavourOS doesn’t make you inferior to someone running Arch. It just means you have chosen a different path. Neither path is right or wrong.
It is the same with the Arch philosophy. It isn’t correct or incorrect. It is one philosophical option out of many. If you don’t share it, it doesn’t need to be some emotional debate or bashing session. Just don’t go to the Arch forum and move on with your life.
I think it is great that the Arch forum exists and caters to one user demographic and a forum like this exists to cater a different group.