ipsirc

Also it’s difficult to find a clear list of all the available environments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_Window_System_desktop_environments?useskin=vector#Desktop_comparison_information

how the heck do I find out more about DE’s and which distro they are compatable with.

All DEs can be run on all mainstream distros.

appear to be the same visually.

It's just the default theme + icon packs. You can configure any DE to looks very similar as other DE, if you use the same icon pack + themes + wallpapers.

I should mention that I have zero interest in the window manager or tiler or whatever they are called. To me, they are super ugly and very confusing to understand :)

Spoiler: all DEs using a window manager, so all DEs are super ugly for you…

If you use a computer, make regular backups.

Tadaaam: LinuxMint.

Just use buzz.

In fact, Mint adds even more bugs to the distro than Ubuntu originally has.

rtorrent

Now we just need to be able to tell the penguins to build ramps or dig holes.

There is a Lemmings theme which I use. (It uses the graphics from the original DOS lemmings game.)

xpenguins