I think the least that distros can do, is allow listing all packages and system settings in config files like .toml, rather than having to type in every single package to install, or click through system setting GUIs to setup. Would that require using a whole programming language or system like NIx?
While NixOS works much differently from most distros, that’s the only reason I use it: package and system settings in text files. If I fix something, it’s fixed permanently, I don’t need to hunt down files in random directories if I want to change a setting. If I ever need to reinstall the OS I don’t have to write dnf install every single damn package and manually setup all that up all over again. Having daily-drove Windows macOS & Fedora as throughout the years, my setups have felt hacky as well as houses of cards as I’ve wanted or had to set them up again (I don’t mean Fedora specifically, but distros in general).
Basically it feels insane that it’s the way most linux users and servers in the world operate. If I, a humble computer hobbyist can figure out Nix, why don’t more users do so, and why is Nix so niche?
You could build a Debian installation with user-defined list of packages since way back in 2010. It’s just a bit too technical for an average spreadsheet cowboy who decided to ditch M$ Losedows.
Also, Docker does exactly what you describe, just inside the VM. There’s a whole ass new position for Dockerscript coders, called devops or something. I think there should be an easy way to install Docker image onto the real hardware with no Docker inbetween too, this question deserves researching.