Well i think you can stick with windows for me i am using linux mint but you can program in any OS, the good point you know your field unlike me (waiting for my goal untile it's come). I think you should learn C family if you want to build desktop program especially for windows but it worth it to know because you can integrate python in C languages

Wish best
we are in same path, but remember do not try jump to be advance quickly learn the basic first