Yes, we can be smug for a change. We were the butt of jokes when we
underwent change and can now relax. Now GNOME and Unity users can feel what
we went through and we can understand. This time around we get to sit on the
sidelines. Not only that but KDE still uses the same desktop metaphor that
we grew up with while both GNOME and Unity have elected for a smartphone
interface. I figure that you can not turn back the clock for GNOME or Unity.
They have chosen a course and users must either play catch up or switch to
KDE or XFCE.

KDE can be both desktop and activity based and the user can choose either or
use both. Not only is it flexible but it is faster than either GNOME 3 or
Unity. You can use Compiz or Kwin with or without compositing. You can
maximise and minimise and the buttons are on the right. You can run
applications from the system tray and drag and drop to your heart's content.
You can use a dock or not. nothing is forced on you. Life is good!