It is a matter of taste. I use Xfce because it's fast but on fast machines I have no problem using Gnome Shell with plugins that give functionality which is at

It is a matter of taste. I use Xfce because it's fast but on fast machines I have no problem using Gnome Shell with plugins that give functionality which is at least as good, if not better. Unity is less customizable but has improved some details and is quite usable; Compiz is ridiculously customizable in any case, even if you don't want the dock. And there are several good tiling WMs, etc. Now as ever, there is no shortage of good desktops and window managers to choose from on Linux, for the 'power user' ... again, it's a matter of taste. Not a matter of some terrible betrayal by one or another distro.