I had to install lots of extensions to make gnome look semi-friendly. What were they thinking? Removed the minimize option from all windows?

I customized Gnome 40 to the point it does not even resemble the original. But why?

I used to run XFCE but now wondering what else is out there.

I am old school, when FVWM was popular and was a huge upgrade over MWM and TWM. Wonder if I should install fvwm again. I am that frustrated with Gnome. I found it light and easy to customize and easy to define the workplace switcher.

Anyone runs fvwm?

I think modern GNOME is trying to be something different than the typical desktop, more like a mobile phone. You are not meant to minimize apps, you just open new apps overtop of them, and switch back to them when you want them with the app switcher. You basically are not meant to use the desktop the old way. Your app launcher and switcher are whole new screens, not shown with the desktop in the background, etc. They're also trying to reduce options and complexity to make things more simple, but less customizable.

Also, I think they're up to version 44 by now, but in any case that would be even more of what you probably don't like.

You'd probably prefer any other desktop environment. No need to list them as they're listed elsewhere.

If you're looking for a more standard desktop experience, KDE is the obvious choice.

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You may be able to use Gnome Tweaks to get the minimize button back.

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this is incredibly valuable and the first thing I did a few years ago when I re-installed Gnome on Oracle Linux 8.

And totally forgot how I did it. So thanks for pointing out. I used some other features in Tweaks. Like point to raise instead of click to raise.

Actually it seems to me more that they are trying to push us to using more stuff full screen. Dynamic work spaces makes this a breeze. But it is still different yes although not completely in a bad way. There really is no reason to overlap stuff though. Flip through desktops and see everything maxed out in all it's glory. When you get used to doing that it's far more efficient than the standard min max thing we've all been doing for years.

The inability to customize though is where they lose me. But it is a trade off. And as they say "It get's out of your way". It really does. If you just want to focus on your work then it's quite unmatched I think. The only thing that beats it from that perspective is a straight WM with no bells and whistles. For me...

Some other ideas, JWM, IceWM, LXDE, XFCE, I'm not keen on FVWM, personally, but maybe Window Maker would be more like it, or possibly, Enlightenment.

All that everyone else has already said,
plus Fluxbox (window manager) + Rox-Filer (desktop). There may be smaller desktops and more easily customized .., although I would not bet on it.

Other ideas for alternative desktops:

https://mate-desktop.org/ (continuation of GNOME 2)
https://www.trinitydesktop.org/ (continuation of KDE 3)
https://gnustep.github.io/ (GNUStep, a NEXSTEP-like GUI that can be used with Window Maker)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/cdesktopenv/
(Common Desktop Environment, the Unix desktop of the 90s)

You can find a comprehensive list of Window Managers (189!) there
https://www.gilesorr.com/wm/table.html

I'm a senior Senior - I should know everything about all 190 desktops <-- counting MS-Windows.
Fat chance ;>} of you finding the perfect desktop.

You mentioned "used to run XFCE but now wondering..."
...now we're worried "whatsa'matter with XFCE ???"

For what it's worth, Fluxbox is my go-to GUI, but I like to have KDE underneath, because I like many basic KDE applications, such as Kate, Konsole, Kolourpaint, and Dolphin.

Just chiming in.

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When I tried to use gnome 4 I couldn't get rid of the feeling that when I actually managed to do what I wanted to do someone somewhere was grinding his teeth in hopeless despair. Even windows fails to maintain this feeling so strongly and so persistently. KDE, of course KDE.

Another vote for "Mate" (as above, effectively Gnome 2 continued).

24 years ago I rejected Gnome on basic principles for its painfully horrid defaults. Since then I have yet to find a reason to try it again. After rejecting Gnome I found KDE on Mandrake. I'm still using KDE3, with 8 different virtual desktops/workspaces, but on *SUSE since 2003. TDE is just as good, maybe better (minimally different), a fork of KD3, available on various popular distros.

Thank you mrmazda - just read "24 years ago",,, suddenly my memory-light kicked ON.
I am now running Q4OS - in a few words,,, it is everything mentioned above.
My new Q4OS is like having new shoes - 'well polished'