OpenSUSE vs Hardened Gentoo

The packaging team is dependable resulting in system updates that come in a timely fashion and systems which rarely, if ever, break due to packaging. The versions of software that are selected and the configuration of them is typically extremely high quality.

openSUSE makes use of a GUI tool called YaST to install and setup an openSUSE system.

YaST is very easy to use and makes the process of installing and maintaining an openSUSE installation a breeze.

SUSE Build Service offers packages from the same sources as Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, SUSE Linux Enterprise and other distributions. This is the most underused package tool in Linux today.

Both Gnome and KDE desktop options are well polished to fit with the opensuse theme and environement, so either desktop is a great choice.

Stable, reliable, rock solid.

OpenSUSE is very easy in terms of installing packages, administration and customization, yet very powerful in the same. Every user should find his own piece of cake in this OS.

Popular format shared with distros like Fedora, RHEL, Scientific Linux, Mageia etc.

Does the job needed and has the hardware drivers for the application built-in by the H/W supplier.

Directions on other desktop Linux's often force you to use GUI packages or have steps that introduce security issues.
OpenSUSE has a professional community and directions are usually geared toward GUI and CLI with similar steps.

It comes standard with a large number of pre-added applications that sort out your day-to-day use.

Regular and easy upgrades to stable and well tested software.

Much better system then other distros for installing any package. It is as simple as clicking on one button and typing in your password. Adds a repo to your system keeping everything updated at the same time.

Best administration and setup tool.

Applications feel fast.

Fast, reliable, powerful and almost impossible to leave a broken system.
The Yast interface will also give you access to a Zypper GUI if you are uncomfortable with the command line.

OpenSUSE has a VERY active user community. Questions on forums are generally answered in minutes.

Your only real options for a widely supported hardened distro are the Red Had distros (Red Hat, CentOS, Fedora) of which Fedora is your best bet for a desktop , or Gentoo. You can make a hardened kernel in Gentoo while stripping unnecessary features, creating a much smaller attack surface, and using in-kernel mitigations others don’t.

From SELinux to PaX to AppArmor to.... The wiki has got you covered.

Out of CentOS /RedHat/Fedora a hardened kernel is very easy to make.

Out of CentOS/RedHat/Fedora/OpenSUSE/Slackware/FreeBSD/Mandriva and Arch, only Gentoo can best protect you against NOP-sled malwares, even with ROP/COP mechanisms.