You do have the option of adding the repos for Trisquel 9.0 to your
source.list for a "testing experience". If you'd like to help with
backporting newer versions of packages into Trisquel repos, Chaosmonk gave
some detailed instructions here:
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/jami-version-trisquel-8-repos-still-called-ring
Keep in mind that the rationale of Trisquel, as a distro, is to provide the
same newbie-friendly experience as Ubuntu, but without the nonfree bits. If
you have the skills to cope with Debian testing, you could try Parabola/
Hyperbola for the Arch experience, or try out GuixSD for a Nix style
experience. You also have the option of just using Debian Testing with the
nonfree repos disabled, which AFAIK makes it a fully free distro.
