I care more about functionality than superficial design. I take a similar position in media (TV & film). For example, I love Babylon 5 even though the special effects are admittedly primitive compared to modern science fiction programs. The WRITING and DIRECTION in Babylon 5 is brilliant. I can forgive something superficial if there is substance to it

The fact MATE exists is proof I am far from alone in my views. Indeed, this is one of the benefits of FLOS software. Noone is ALLOWED, for example, to create a fork of Windows XP if they want to. Microsoft would quickly stamp down and take to court any attempt to do so. But you and I can both be Linux users who prefer different GUIs. Some of this simply comes down to preference - I prefer GNOME as it was before it was ruined and that is what MATE offers me 😄

Gnome 3 got rid of desktop icons and the menu of Gnome 2, it was also a resource hog. Mate offers what I liked about Gnome 2. Sue me.

The next laptop I bought came preinstalled with Windows Vista (AKA Windows Millenium version 2). It was so frustrating I decided to investigate alternatives. I even considered going Macintosh. But I was at a bookstore and saw one of those Linux magazines with a free disc from which I could install Linux. I think it was Ubuntu on the disc (before Unity). I was hooked. I use Trisquel now.

I know this is a joke, but before I discovered GNU-Linux I used XP and didn’t hate it. I was usable. Microsoft hadn’t yet completely stripped away user autonomy.

I like the ones that are forks of pre-ruined Gnome. MATE is my favorite of that type.

I am curious, who is “them” in your statement and how does opposing all three of those things inherently cause me to give up my bargaining power?

Interesting phrasing. A phrasing that assumes assumptions on my part. So … what social credit system DOES exist.

It is possible to oppose all three things. It is possible to simultaneously oppose the Social Credit System in China, the Credit Score system in the United States, and the elites connected to Jeffrey Epstein.