TrueNAS scale vs HexOS

[eddified]

Please help me understand the value-add that HexOS gives over TrueNAS Scale. I have never used either. However, I am interested in signing up for a lifetime HexOS license after I heard Linus (of Linus TechTips fame) endorse it (or at least positively mention it) in what seemed like a non-paid mention. 

I have been reading about TrueNAS & HexOS. And the understanding I am getting is that HexOS isn't really an OS.... ? It's more like a set of helpful utilities on top of TrueNAS Scale? Ie, it's TrueNAS Scale with some monitoring, UI, and installation tools. If it is more than this, I would really like to understand how much more value it adds. 

I mean, TrueNAS already has a UI and apps for containers. Like Plex: https://www.truenas.com/docs/truenasapps/stableapps/plex/

But HexOS just makes a better UI!? I mean, I'm making these statements not as a declaration, but as a question: am I understanding it right?

I understand that the command deck is an external service that runs in the cloud, outside my own home network. So that can have its uses, for sure, but how does that help with the actual OS side in terms of containerization, storage features, zfs, etc? Command Deck just helps manage it all?

[eddified]

Here is where I am coming from: I'm a "prosumer" home user. I want to use my own hardware, and use a single machine for the following:

• Storage
• Backups
• Windows Filesharing
• Plex
• Immich
• Nextcloud
• Minecraft Server
• Various Containers:
  • caddy reverse proxy
  • pi-hole
  • etc

Currently I'm doing all of the above using Ubuntu. But, I don't have RAID, just some external USB drives for storage & backups. 

[Mobius]

The big thing is that once HexOS is ready it will just simplify the use of the underlying Truenas.

The goal is that one won't have to understand how to setup permissions and what not.

I purposely haven't bothered to learn how to use Truenas so maybe someone with more experience with truenas can better fill you in.