Well if you compare it with shit you set the bar unnececarily low.

If you actually can and want to look for something better that feels teams-like enough and actually doesnt suck?

Give Mattermost a shot. Its FOSS and comes with a Paid Option - for Corps of a Size where you want active support.

Comp I work for uses it and I fucking love it.

Awesome :3

[…] and have been using various Linux distros as my main os for almost 20 years.

Matey. Get into any company that has linux junior positions. You already have more experiance in linux than 90% of the average (windows) Sysadmin.

For realzies now. Most will look weird at you if you ask them to edit a file in the shell or using a server VM that runs without graphical interface.

Get into a linux junior position and get started.

Learn lots and lots. After a few years moneywise you might be back your old job as experienced chemist.