I used LXDE a lot under Ubuntu and I like it but not very much. I miss the
multiple desktops. It has only two and when I add some more the new
configuration is not saved and have to add more desktops next time. But it is
very fast and responsive. But it is more uncomfortable to use than GNOME. I also
use FVWM-Crystal sometimes but I am too lazy to use the menus. I just left-click
on the desktop to start the terminal and start applications from there. And it
is really more comfortable than LXDE.
Under Antix it seems that LXDE does not work either. I installed GNOME, KDE
and XFCE and it seemed to have managed, but at startup I never managed to use
anything than the default windowmanager, it seems that it is JWM. Then it was
easy to switch to Fluxbox.
Under Antix it was quite easy to install programs from the command line, I had
to become root by using the su command and root password and then everything was
easy with

aptitude install whatever.

Among others I installed OpenOffice and had to install Digikam, as I could not
get F-spot to work.
Now I am writing under Crunchbang Linux.