The UX is abysmal to the point of being user-hostile, the name of the software is an abelist slur, and also has sexual connotations (the founders are aware of both issues with the name, with the latter being the intention behind the name, and explicitly no intentions of addressing the former). There's just nothing positive about it whatsoever.
As someone who uses it somewhat regularly... It's terrible. Apparently the next update is supposed to fix some of the UX issues people have had for years. But they said that last time as well.
I just use Krita now for most stuff. The only thing GIMP does better (or did, I haven't checked recently) is textboxes. Adding text to images on Krita was a nightmare a few years ago, but maybe they've fixed it.
Krita's made so much progress over the years. One of the best FOSS image tools. It might be intended for painting and artists, but it's just as good at regular image editing.
That's essentially the opposite path Photoshop took and that's considered good for both. Anyway can attest, krita works great for everything I've every used Photoshop for.
You might look at Digikam. It is both a photo manager but has some editing functions. Not sure what they are.
The other one people talk about is Krita. I have not used that one. I would use GIMP myself but I hear you. Kind of understood the interface but now it has changed again so I struggle.