The best thing abt all linux distributions is that you can modify almost everything without much effort. Not like Windows... btw, I've noticed a stack overflow protection in my last Linux Mint distro... Anyone know how to fix that? (I tried compiling with -fno-stack-protector)
I used Gentoo, but I get bored and moved to Arch Linux. I bored to compile :P
My impression: I learnt too much with the manual settings, the setups and the compiles. But If you don't have any expirience in Linux maybe it's very difficult. It needs patience and many many hours of searching and solving problems. I tried it some years ago... maybe the things have changed.
But I liked Arch Linux cause I learnt too much things and there is no need to compile all the time :-)
Arch-Debian are my favorite distros. Gentoo is too 1337 but boring....for my needs. I need faster setups etc.
and as for my experience on gentoo, i enjoyed it and learnt a shitload of stuff(probably too much) but this was quite a while ago.[hr] http://i48.tinypic.com/so7cxj.jpg