Because if you want a simple Desktop Environment you can get it with XFCE, which integrates better (or at least used to) with Gnome/KDE apps and has some extra

Because if you want a simple Desktop Environment you can get it with XFCE, which integrates better (or at least used to) with Gnome/KDE apps and has some extra goodies (like a decent panel plugin selection) and many useful xfce-configuration apps. Maybe for old devices LXDE makes sense because it's even more lightway, but I have the feeling XFCE fills the same niche (minimalist, cut the bullshit, down to earth thing) a bit better for the general case. Disclosure: XFCE user who tried LXDE and hates the bloated monsters of Gnome/KDE.