Which makes Ubuntu basically Debian right? So just install that!
For a user coming from Windows I recommend Mint Cinnamon as it will give them the best, most familiar experience. Yes a newbie could find and install Ubuntu Cinnamon but the default ISO on the downloads page will saddle them with Gnome.
Big difference: Pop, at least, does not push Canonical's proprietary "Snap" nonsense. You can use it if you really want, but it's not installed by default. No snapd on my system, thanks.
I hate it, basically I have to force myself when I boot into windows to physically disconnect the RJ45 from the back, so it doesn't replace the boot entries thru an update.
For the end user, especially a beginner, there's 0 difference between them.
Shouldn't be the other way around? Beginners usually won't want to install DE's or other stuff by hand:
Linux Mint offers a Windows-like experience with cinnamon out of the box, and has several stuff setup by default like system snapshots and media codecs.
Pop!_OS is really appealing visually and very comfortable to use and setup.
I was scared to install Linux as a daily driver at first. Then Windows Update screwed up my install and I said "Screw it, I'm not installing Windows again". Basically Windows took the decision to uninstall it for me :)