When comparing PCLinuxOS vs Hardened Gentoo, the Slant community recommends PCLinuxOS for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux distributions for misanthropes?” PCLinuxOS is ranked 18th while Hardened Gentoo is ranked 36th. The most important reason people chose PCLinuxOS is:
The distribution is continually updated, so there's no need to install OS upgrades by hand.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros


Pro Rolling release
The distribution is continually updated, so there's no need to install OS upgrades by hand.

Pro Stable
PCLinuxOS is designed around stability.

Pro Multiple desktops available
Mate, LXDE, and KDE desktops are available.

Pro Can remaster the boot DVD
PCLinuxOS has built in tools for remastering bootable DVD into a copy of current install.

Pro Excellent hardware compatibility
Comes with nVidia drivers out of the box. Important if the PC has an nVidia chipset. Most Debian based distros don't have nVidia drivers available at install time.
LXDE version works well with older hardware.
Pro Supports custom hardened kernels
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.
Pro Comprehensive hardened guide in wiki
From SELinux to PaX to AppArmor to.... The wiki has got you covered.
Pro Fully customized kernel that prevents server-side malwares with SSO mechanisms
Out of CentOS /RedHat/Fedora a hardened kernel is very easy to make.
Pro Best defense against NOP-sled malwares, even with ROP/COP mechanisms
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.
Cons
Con Installation fails most of the time, error messages, and hard to go to full screen in virtual box

Con Uses RPM packaging system
Uses the RPM packaging system with APT, rather than the more popular DEB packages.
