I had the same feeling a couple of months ago, was asking my self that question long time ago until I start realizing something when I finally decide to do the final switch.
The only way to help you is to explain what a Linux distro is, I hope you understand what a distro really is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution
A Linux distribution (often called a distro for short) is an operating system made as a software collection based on the Linux kernel and, often, on a package management system. Linux users usually obtain their operating system by downloading one of the Linux distributions, which are available for a wide variety of systems ranging from embedded devices (for example, OpenWrt) and personal computers to powerful supercomputers (for example, Rocks Cluster Distribution).
A typical Linux distribution comprises a Linux kernel, GNU tools and libraries, additional software, documentation, a window system (the most common being the X Window System), a window manager, and a desktop environment. Most of the included software is free and open-source software made available both as compiled binaries and in source code form, allowing modifications to the original software. Usually, Linux distributions optionally include some proprietary software that may not be available in source code form, such as binary blobs required for some device drivers.[1] Almost all Linux distributions are Unix-like; the most notable exception is Android, which does not include a command-line interface and programs made for typical Linux distributions.[2]
A Linux distribution may also be described as a particular assortment of application and utility software (various GNU tools and libraries, for example), packaged together with the Linux kernel in such a way that its capabilities meet the needs of many users.[3] The software is usually adapted to the distribution and then packaged into software packages by the distribution's maintainers. The software packages are available online in so-called repositories, which are storage locations usually distributed around the world.[4][5] Beside glue components, such as the distribution installers (for example, Debian-Installer and Anaconda) or the package management systems, there are only very few packages that are originally written from the ground up by the maintainers of a Linux distribution.
Read carefully the very last quoted sentence:
Beside glue components, such as the distribution installers (for example, Debian-Installer and Anaconda) or the package management systems, there are only very few packages that are originally written from the ground up by the maintainers of a Linux distribution.
Strictly speaking Linux itself is not an operating system, the collection of packages + Linux is what makes GNU/Linux a working OS and that is the problem that you are facing right now.
When you choose a Linux distro you are going to be stuck with their project goals and vision (remember they are simple putting together all the lose bits and pieces for their target audience)
You also need to understand that there is no definition of what and how a GNU/Linux should be. I think it would be also impossible to define it, even if you start listing the basic components that an OS should have you will start noticing there is a lot of "duplicity" in the free software world. Hopefully there kernel is still just one, Linux.
When you choose a distro investigate very closely the project goals and vision.
For example there are distros which do not want to deal with proprietary software/drivers thus if you are a consumer with your fancy Nvidia/ATI video card (ironically) you should avoid the distros listed here:
https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html and not because they are bad, is because you will have hard time with your proprietary hardware. It is also not the fault of the distro neither of the Linux maintainer, if there is one to blame I would point my finger to the big corporations behind it.
The only suggestion that I can give you is
When you have an average knowledge of Linux stick with the upstream (not based on anything else) distributions like Debian, Fedora, OpenSuse, Arch, etc.
http://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostyp ... tus=Active
When you are just starting stick with Ubuntu/Mint. The big plus of choosing Ubuntu/Mint is its popularity that attract commercial software developers.
After I switch completely to Linux I was using Mint for a couple of months, then I realized that the only reason that I was using Mint was because of the Cinnamon desktop then I drifted to Arch.
Since I already have the knowledge to find my own way, Arch gave me tools to build what I considered what a GNU\Linux OS should be on my PC without philosophical restrictions.
Your request of sticking with one single road is very hard to achieve because of the variety and freedom.
Just look at the desktop environment, each one of then has their own text editor, which one should they focus on? KDE even have their one productivity software (Calligra) when we already have LibreOffice (which was forked from OpenOffice)
You may want to watch this two long videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOxlazS3zs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu0l-Ac7fTU
In my case after analyzing this situation I end up looking for a JeOS (Just Enough Operating System) where I can choose freely my own collection of software and not being dictated by a distro maintainer.
!
