If yes, does it reduce any of the security benefits of running the default desktop (unclear how the ostree behaves in a non-default scenario)?
3 If not recommended, is CoreOS a better alternative to Fedora Workstation?
Asking in relation to PCs with old Intel dual core processors with 2GB ram (Intel Atom N550 and Intel Dual Core T7200).
As far as I know there is no official immutable Fedora that uses LXDE - it’s either KDE or Gnome.
You can’t simply install LXDE on a Fedora Silverblue, but have a look at Kinoite, a KDE (and now XFCE) version of Fedora Silverblue. There seems to be a community maintained XFCE variant.
CoreOS is not an alternative to the Workstation product. CoreOS is a minimal cloud or server system made for container-based applications, say for clustered server applications or appliances. Running a desktop in containers seems to be inefficient and a lot of work: Imagine for every app on your desktop you would need a containers…and then they are isolated from each other, nothing you would want on a desktop.
I know 2gb ram is not much but for surfing and light office apps it is still viable with a light desktop. Seeking to delay the trip to recycling a bit longer.