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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Ouch, harsh, but true. It's kind of insane how much is out of our control nowadays, and how companies don't seem inclined to do much of anything about it. I hear that AMD at least, is going to switch to an open source alternative to PSP in the future though.
We'll have better open source hardware eventually. Today's fpgas, at least the affordable ones, aren't quite powerful enough to make something as performant as a modern motherboard but we'll get there eventually. People are already working on homebrewed x86 stuff which is going to set the groundwork for 20 years from now when every single computer not made in a hobbiest's garage is as locked down as a modern iPhone.
Intel ME, AMD PSP, and motherboard-firmware.
Aside from creating your own CPU at home, as demonstrated by this individual: https://blog.robertelder.org/how-to-make-a-cpu/
You may want to closely monitor developments around RISC-V and ARM CPUs if security is a top priority in your Linux hardening efforts. It's crucial to remember that maintaining security extends beyond just your computer—it's a multi-layered process.
Even Libreboot has started to allow closed source blobs in and only relented to keep a strain of it blob free when confronted over it.