I'm using Linux Mint Mate 18.1 (Mate Desktop) but have tried others.
This morning, I tested a few things. Using the AppImage 37, I have had crashed with text effect when I tried a blank sequence and used "OS Fonts". Crash happens as soon as I type a letter in the text box. Any fonts, btw.
In another already made sequence, I was able to drop a test effect and start typing, no issues, even with default OS Fonts selection.
This make absolutely no sense, whatsoever.

I prefer Linux over Windows for many reason. Windows, I get stalls, takes about 60-75 seconds to render a sequence, where that same exact sequence takes 7.6 seconds to render in Linux. Hopefully a solution, whether a bug, or configuration on the OS can fix this and this discussion can bring about ideas and such to try.