Linux user for the past 20 years - I cannot remember the last laptop I had that didn't have multi touch and gestures support. been using mostly ThinkPads & Dells.
I don't know what marketing team created this whole "our trackpad is so different" belief, but they've done a brilliant job!
Multi-touch per se has been pretty common even in tiny junk trackpads. The problem is that it's not particularly useful in that case.
What makes Apple's trackpads so nice is a huge and solid surface. I came from Thinkpads myself and honestly didn't expect that to be as much of a thing as it turned out to be, but yes, they really are that much better. There are a few PC laptops these days with similar trackpads, but you definitely have to look for it when picking one.
I don't know what marketing team created this whole "our trackpad is so different" belief, but they've done a brilliant job!