“GNU/Linux, and all other operating systems, are based around a
kernel which controls hardware access and maximizes CPU and RAM
efficiency by controlling when and how much programs get to use.
The difference between Linux and most other operating systems
(closed source ones at least BSD and other open source OS’s you can
do this with) is that you can compile the kernel to meet your
needs.“I will most likely never have to use an old serial modem or
something, so I would not compile in the drivers for it…”