I think the last time I installed Mint (21.2) it DID create a swapfile. Don’t use it, so commented that out in /ETC/FSTAB.

When I started with Linux, I was happy to learn that I didn’t need a bunch of separate partitions, and have installed all-in-one (except for boot of course!) since. Whatever works fine for you (-and- is easiest) is the right way! (What you’re doing was once common practice, and serves just as well. No disadvantage in staying with the familiar.)

After I got up to 8GB memory, stopped using swap … easier on the hard drive -and- the SSD. (I move most data to the HD … including TimeShift … except what I use regularly.)

I use Mint as well; for me this keeps things as simple as possible. When I install a new OS version (always with the same XFCE DE) I do put THAT on a new partition (rather than try the upgrade route and risk damaging my daily driver) using the same UserName. A new Home is created within the install partition (does nothing but hold the User folder.)

To keep from having to reconfig -almost everthing- in the new OS all over again I evolved a system. First I verify that the new install boots properly, I then use a Live USB to copy the old User .config file (and the apps and their support folders I keep in user) to the new User folder. Saves hours of reconfiguring most things. The new up-to-date OS mostly resembles and works like the old one … without the upgrade risks.

could be kind of annoying to export and backup.

True that. Altho, if I were doing a blog, it’d be from stuff I wrote and then posted. (As for comments, how many are worth saving? Present company excepted of course.)

I thought about it too, but I really like HTML and CSS, and prefer a place I can use them. (I’d get interested if I could put anything I want inside a styled <div>…</div>, but sadly few places accomodate that. What they’re worried about I’m uncertain. I’m HOPING that such sites will arise in the Fediverse.)

Since I joined Lemmy a couple months back, one of the ideas I saw mentioned by the Lemmy people for blogging is this: start a Community and make yourself the only poster. You can invite people to be co-posters.

Yes, it has the limits of Lemmy posting. No making your own HTML or fancy backgrounds. But so far as -text- is concerned, the sky’s the limit.

Sounds good, tho they’re not finished yet, hope it works out for them.

Not complaint but suggestion: When I get to the bottom of a column of msgs and click the NEXT button … page should scroll to the top!