Now that you mention it, I remember picking up a few issues of Linux Format back when... probably is a pretty good newb resource.
Ummm... it's like comparing a wormy Granny Smith to a rotten Red Delicious?
Slackware's like an orchard-ripened Jonamac.
Debian doesn't look all that bad, and although imho Ubuntu is worse than Debian, it's still better than SuxSE or Red A-hat. (Which, to answer your query, I'd put about equal, though it's been a while since I mucked with either of them)

(Of course, as a more experienced geek, it's my solemn duty to take all the distro-wars a bit too seriously, so while my praise is sincere, my disses might be just a little exaggerated...)