Linode is fine, and one can run Discourse can run on any hardware that meets the requirements for memory and storage.
Digital Ocean is a relatively simple and accessible service, and is a known variable. That means if folks are seeking support have an issue with hosting (as opposed to a configuration or UI issue), the dev team can give a minimal amount of time supporting what generally shouldn’t be a concern for Discourse operators.
This is the aggregate opinion I’ve formed from reading posts and discussing this, but that was years ago. You might be able to search around for the answer. 