Ubuntu - GNOME
Kubuntu - KDE
Xubuntu - Xfce
Puppy Linux - JWM
Damn Small Linux - JWM, Fluxbox
Fedora - GNOME (default)
OpenSUSE - KDE (default)
Debian - GNOME, KDE, Xfce
Red Hat Enterprise Linux - GNOME
Linux Mint - GNOME
Xandros - KDE
PCLinuxOS - KDE
Different Linux distributions can use different GUI's some will use Gnome or KDE. Most distributions will let you choose which you want. If you have an older machine you might want to use XFCE or LXDE window managers. If you are looking for a distribution you might want to try Linux Mint it uses all of these Window Managers.
Many Linux distributions are intended for home users.
This is a holding question for alternates dealing with long-obsolete Linux distributions, such as Red Hat Linux 9. Please do not split the alternates out. There is no reason to use these distributions; they no longer receive any security updates, may not run on modern hardware, and many modern Linux distributions are free.
Nowadays more and more Linux distributions are heading towards the user-friendly side with graphical interfaces and makes them suitable for daily desktop/home user use. Even now Valve decides to port Steam games and even their SteamOS is Linux-based.
Strictly speaking, a "shell" is simply the interface between the user and the rest of the operating system. In that definition not all shells on Linux are command lines. However, most day-to-day usage of the term "shell" does refer to command line user interfaces. Finally, "Linux shell" is not a thing. Linux is an operating system, specifically a kernel, not a shell. Most Linux distributions use BASH, but I personally prefer ZSH.
It's extremely fast, reliable, secure, configurable, and, in case of distributions like Ubuntu or Linux Mint - very comfortable to use.
No. Those user interfaces are copyrighted. However, some distros have fairly similar interfaces that you can use instead.
SSH1 can technically be used on virtually all distributions, yes. It is not, however, in wide use due to certain security vulnerabilities.
ipacsum does, although 99% of Linux distributions don't actually use or contain this program.
Mepis is an operating system, based on Linux. The advantages of Mepis compared to other Linux distributions are its lightness, its stability, and its simplicity of use.
why different user interfaces require the use of different types of input device
Most modern operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions with graphical user interfaces, use icons to represent programs. These icons provide a visual way for users to interact with applications, making it easier to launch and manage them. The use of icons is a key feature of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), enhancing user experience by providing intuitive navigation.