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Note that there is a distinction--however subtle--between "window manager" and "desktop environment".
I have not seen a precise definition, so this is only mine:
Window manager=something that interfaces with the X server and allows GUI programs to open windows
Desktop environment=Window manager + tools to help organize things--eg utilties, file browser, panels, toolbars, etc.
In my diddling, KDE, Gnome, and XFCE are the big three Desktop Environments. Note that Xubuntu is Ubuntu + XFCE. (Is this the only example of a major distro that pacages something besides KDE and Gnome?)
Most distros package things other than KDE and GNOME. Vector uses (or used to) IceWM, Arch comes with xfce if you download a complete iso.
There are many packagers/distro maintainers who realize not everyone wants to use KDE or GNOME. In fact, Knoppix comes with four or five different WMs.
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