ArcoLinux FTW

I’d argue it’s just the first two. Systemd gets a lot of hate but many don’t notice the difference between distros with or without it

Doesn’t Spiral count?

More context would help. What platform do you have available? What have you already tried? How much do you have to transfer? What are you planning to transfer to? How much storage do iCloud backups use? Etc.

A couple suggestions come to mind off the top of my head. First, you can use the web interface for photos and iCloud drive to download your files, but this may be slow. You can load your photos from the Mac Photos app, which usually has a fast export time. Be aware of third party alternatives, as many aren’t compatible with Live Photos or don’t export all the metadata.