* Close to upstream, for early access to packaged software,
* Security is a primary concern: SELinux by default, Firewall by default, PolicyKit, Exec-Shield, Compile Time Buffer Checks, ELF Data Hardening, Restricted Kernel Memory Access, Stack Smash Protection, Buffer Overflow Detection, Variable Reordering, etc.
* Complete transparency of the distribution (including open sourcing all software they create for their internal processes),
* I prefer PackageKit/yum/rpm,
* They contribute heavily to upstream, as part of their process,
* They drive the development of a lot of the software other distributions use (NetworkManager, D-Bus, PolicyKit, PackageKit, ConsoleKit, HAL, SELinux policy, PulseAudio, etc.).
* Close to upstream, for early access to packaged software,
* Security is a primary concern: SELinux by default, Firewall by default, PolicyKit, Exec-Shield, Compile Time Buffer Checks, ELF Data Hardening, Restricted Kernel Memory Access, Stack Smash Protection, Buffer Overflow Detection, Variable Reordering, etc.
* Complete transparency of the distribution (including open sourcing all software they create for their internal processes),
* I prefer PackageKit/yum/rpm,
* They contribute heavily to upstream, as part of their process,
* They drive the development of a lot of the software other distributions use (NetworkManager, D-Bus, PolicyKit, PackageKit, ConsoleKit, HAL, SELinux policy, PulseAudio, etc.).
Those are some things that come to mind.