Void linux is a rolling release, has binary packages, uses a very good package manager (even better than pacman) and the community is small but very friendly.
Crux is very minimal, and you have to compile your packages.
My father gave me a good piece of wisdom on that subject.
He told me that when you face someone who would be "intimidated", you have to realize that when this person is going to have to go for a crap, he will be sitting on the same seat everybody sits, and will be ejecting stinking shit like everybody else.
The problem is that our economic structure relies on continuous growth. As opposed to moste living systems, who reach a point of equilibrium somewhere.
You know what living entity also relies on continuous growth? Cancer. We're cancer.
I was (and still am in many ways) this undisciplined kid. I never learned the value of a good work ethic, of effort.
One of the most important thing I want to teach my 4 months old son, is the value of effort.
I am glad you shared your experience, I will keep it as one of the many tools I am gathering so that I can be able to teach what I haven't learned to my children.
On a very personal note, I just find it very refreshing to finally see some critical analysis of Google lately. It appears to me as if people a getting past the "idolatry", and sarting to fully grasp Google's grip on today's IT realm, with all it's bad sides.