As far as I can remember, Ubuntu is quite simple to install with very few options. I don't know how OpenSUSE's "automatic configuration" might compare as I prefer to be asked the questions and do make some changes to the defaults. As you say though, going that way may be a bit much for a newbie to Linux.

At home, our own move was from Win2K to Linux. I gave my parents the choice of buying XP or trying OpenSuse. They opted for the latter and out of the two desktops I offered (Gnome being the other) felt happier with KDE.

They (coming up to 80 now) have never had to do a Linux install but I'm not sure they had done a Windows one either (I did it for them and prior to that, another brother did...). The only real change in the system maintaince sort of direction is than the number of "Jon - can you have a look at this, something's gone wrong" type "call outs" reduced significantly with the move to Linux. I think a more stable platform also helped them gain confidence.