Will I soon be forced to wipe Windows off of it altogether and go to Linux Mint full-time?
Why wait to be "forced" to use a better system? If you have Mint use it
In the case of an OS upgrade/change it's even more
important to learn while things are fine, you don't want to be fighting a hardware upgrade or system change while also learning a new OS if you can help it. You won't know if the problem is you, the new part/system or the OS. I get not wanting to disturb something that works, but it really is the best time to learn something new because you eliminate variables.
And
start early.
For those wishing to change,
switch to open source stuff NOW, if you can, switch to open source stuff like Libreoffice as opposed to Office. If you switch to open source software first your transition will be far less drastic and you can even just migrate your data. This means, as before, you're only then dealing with the OS itself, which can fall into the background and you're using familiar programs. Just makes it far more simple, this is why I can easily switch between Mac, Windows and Linux, the OS changes but the programs remain the same. My work flow is almost undisturbed regardless of the OS, except in Windows, my got that system nags you to death.
For those programs you cannot, this is what I did...
I used a virtual machine in Windows and used that to try and get the required stuff working in WINE or PlayOnLinux, if absolutely necessary I could also use a virtual machine but my goal was avoid that. I had two big hurdles, the first was Photoshop, I still use an older CS6 copy, but it works fine, I can get later versions running but it just adds more and more creative cloud garbage. The second hold out was C&C Red Alert 2 which I played a lot of at the time, once I got that running I was golden. Everything else was already open source for me. As you figure things out, TAKE NOTES, make install guides, write it down, most Linux users I've met do this. My install guide is 7 pages, my troubleshooting guide is another 7 pages and they contain everything from install commands to how to fix commonly broken things so I don't have to look them up. I did this on mac and windows as well. If you have access to a non-critical system or laptop, stick Linux on that and test some more. Again, TAKE NOTES, they will save you so much headache later, even if you don't switch now, it saves you time and effort later if you do and lets you start where you left off.
Accept that you are on a new OS and it is NOT Windows.
There is no replacement for Windows, Windows is Windows. Early on you will complain "why did they not do it like Windows", because it's not Windows. If it was a clone of Windows why would you chose it over the real thing? Stop expecting it to be Windows or replace Windows. Accept that it's different, eventually you will start to see things where you scream at Windows for how it does things, or Mac and how it does things. They all have their good and bad points, but as a single OS user all your points are from one perspective, you think you see flaws in Windows now but really all you see is the pointed tips of the iceberg. There is so much more about Windows that is not good but you just don't know any different. Anyhow, consider this, it's not that Mac is that easy to switch to, it's that Mac users don't have the luxury of just switching back, they're forced to stick it out and learn or take back a very expensive piece of kit (sink or swim!), Linux users always have that easy choice to just switch back to what you know and you have to push through that urge to switch back and make it easy (dipping toe). It's sort of like learning another language, if it's voluntary it's much harder than if everyone around you speaks that language and forces you to conform. Right now, you're trying to learn French in Southern California, few speak it so there's few to converse with and there's no one to drive you to learn it. Move to France and suddenly you're going to either learn real fast.
Lastly.
Accept that your Windows knowledge only travels so far in Linux (and Mac) and that it took you YEARS to become proficient with that OS, you will learn a new OS faster than the first, but you are starting from almost zero. You will feel stupid, you will get frustrated, you will break things, you're experience with your current OS gives you the confidence but combined with your lack of skills makes you dangerous. Don't expect to switch to Linux (or Mac or vice versa) and instantly be an expert or even an advanced user.
And that the more experience you have, the
more of a power user you are, the harder it will be to switch, not easier.
Most people are not happy with a new OS/phone tablet, any tech until they reach parity with what they already have, someone who is not a master in Windows will adapt quick and easy, they roll with it because they quickly reach their parity compared to Windows, if you don't know how to change wallpaper in Windows you won't care if you can't In Linux either. You quickly reach parity because parity has such a low bar. An experience user however has a much higher barrier to get over, you want to know how to change wallpaper, control updates, set resolution, change fonts and icons and you expect to do it NOW. Not after having to Google it and that's just the start.
Don't get frustrated.P.S.
Yes, it's worth doing.
You have no idea how tight the shackles of Windows really are until you are free of them even if only to return later with more knowledge.