As a Linux Mint user, and someone who advocates for Linux in general, I find that saying what distro should you recommend to new users, or the one users should have on their computers, is something that isn't useful in any way for a wider Linux adoption.
When helping new users choosing what Linux distro to begin with, we should actually listen to what they need from their OS. For some, Linux Mint will the best option, for others might be Zorin OS. Some might be better served by Pop!_OS, all comes down to what they need from their OS, and the computer they have.
Limiting new users to a single point of entry, is setting them up for failure to adopt Linux. Not every new user to Linux has the same same needs, skill level, computer, or expectations, for what Linux should be or do for them. As such, there is no ideal or single distro that should be said to be for new Linux users.
As for the arguments for which distro is the best, or be the Linux users should targets, is also one that should be more focused on the user instead of the distro itself. I've over a decade using Linux, and I've no intention to move to Arch or any other so called advanced distro. I plan stay on Linux Mint, with Pop!_OS being an option. The main reason is that both of these distros work for me without a problem, they just allow me to focus on my work without having to think about the OS.
This is why a prefer, and advocate for Linux. There is a distro that fits you, not perfectly but close enough. What Linux needs to be more widely adopted, apart for being installed out of the box on more computers, is people that actually listen to new users to guide them to the distro that best suits them.
After that, places where people can physically to get support when they need. Not only that, a place where they can talk to people about what they do on their computers, and get advice and tips to better use of their computer. Even learn about apps that can make their work easier.
While some people just need to read a wiki, go to a forum, or watch a YouTube video, to solve the doubts and problems they encounter, others are better served by meeting people in person to better understand and learn the same things. One the strengths of Linux are the communities that are built around it, distros, and other projects. We need to build them online and offline.
There more we focus on making Linux better for the people who actually use it, the better off Linux and its users will be in the long run.
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