If it matters, most of the TDE development team use Debian or related distros, so if you have no other preference, Debian will probably get you the best support.

If you want to try a live image before committing, Q4OS and ExeGnuLinux both supply ISOs with TDE.

TDE. It does what a desktop environment should do and stays out of my way, while offering a more-than-sufficient assortment of built-in software when I need it.

In 18 years of Linux use on a rolling-release distro, I can’t ever recall having an in-tree driver cause any problems.

The Windows machine I’m forced to use for work, on the other hand, misbehaves on update at least once or twice a year.

Tablets with Linux preinstalled are rare—Pine has one, but I don’t recommend any of their devices unless you’re a compulsive tinkerer, since the drivers are usually half-baked. You’re better off, as you say, finding a well-supported mainstream tablet and installing Linux yourself.