Linux Desktop never needed GIMP like a regular Windows user never needed Photoshop. Photoshop is “start at work in the morning” software and GIMP is its “artist’s impression”.
What Linux Desktop needed was Jasc/Corel Paint Shop Pro and its modern reincarnation Paint.NET.
But it was never made, imo.
Most tools are either too heavy and similar to GIMP, or indistinguishable from mspaint, or simple photo filters for “editing” photos.
Similar to this, I still install irfanview via wine in my linux desktop. There's just nothing close to it. I tried some suggestions like nomacs but they are just not there.
What Linux Desktop needed was Jasc/Corel Paint Shop Pro and its modern reincarnation Paint.NET.
But it was never made, imo.
Most tools are either too heavy and similar to GIMP, or indistinguishable from mspaint, or simple photo filters for “editing” photos.