I do remember GNOME3 being presented as "the future" and those of us who liked GNOME2 being told roughly that we were hopeless old duffers who didn't understand

I do remember GNOME3 being presented as "the future" and those of us who liked GNOME2 being told roughly that we were hopeless old duffers who didn't understand modern UI/UX design and to essentially @#$#$k off to XFCE if we didn't like it. IMO it was the desire to put Linux on mobile devices and tablets that seemed to be driving it all - something commercial in other words. Those of us "just using GNOME2" were evicted like the squatters we were. This is why I like the fragmentation of Linux - really what's the problem? Those who want uniformity can go to windows and enjoy having everything dictated to them. I did #$%#$ off to XFCE and I am using it now very happily. Later MATE and Cinnamon came out to save the rest of us "luddites" and I realised then that I wasn't alone in my chagrin which was quite cheering. Nobody explained the hit on GNOME2 by talking about "threats from Microsoft" and I can't understand how copying the Mac made Linux desktop safer legally since Apple isn't known for refraining from legal action either. I always thought GNOME AND Windows copied the Motif style of menus in windows which I didn't like because I was weaned on GEM on the Atari and on DOS. I don't know though.