I would go with Arch and i3. Dont use archinstall. Do it the hard way and you will learn alot about linux.

I also prefer i3 with minimal visual changes. I hate gaps, the rounded corners and animations when opening/moving windows. Sure it might look pretty on a screenshot, but using it is worse than a simple i3 that gets out of the way and you don’t see it.

Just replace the potentiometer, they get rusty. I had the same problem restoring my grandmas old amp.

Does it make crackling noise while turning the volume potentiometer?