I have a solution to this I use. If asked I just tell people to use Kubuntu. You might pick a different distribution, I choose Kubuntu for a variety of reasons.

"What linux should I use?"

"Kubuntu".

No other options given or discussed.

It's my "official linux" even though I no longer use it personally.

Now you just have to do the same. Pick your own official linux that's going to be the only one you tell people to use in real life.

Maybe in a few years they'll decide to distro hop once they understand more, but right here and now they want one answer.

"There are 14 competing standards!"

"We should make a new one that has all the benefits of the others, and everyone can use that."

"There are now 15 competing standards!"

Rinse and repeat.

"To get around this, I would suggest basing the official Linux distribution on Debian but with a few queues from other distros"

"Now there are 15 competing standards"

Argument: lack of a representative Linux distribution on Desktop setups.

" Also: Want to save your aging computer? Try these 5 Linux distributions "