On Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:54:25 +0100, Joe User wrote:

Not so, several Linux based distributions I have experience of have a
default root account with no password. A standard user is created on
install and protected with a compulsory password, this user is added to
sudoers

again, I think you run Knoppix as root but Knoppix is not meant to be
installed, it's more for trying out hardware or doing some kind of damage
control. (I once did install it and it was neat but (as I recall) there
were few mechanisms for updating.)

puppy linux runs as root by default if I understand alright; see http://
www.puppylinux.com/technical/root.htm

F.