KDE 4.x looks great by itself- but it's a victim of plasma. Therefore, I think plasma should have been made optional- completely optional- and without dependencies. I have no nostalgia for 3.0, mind you. Yes, I liked it, particularly its speed and performance. I had high hopes for 4.0 but let out high-pitched wails
instead- until I realized I could turn the special effects off.
One current Linux desktop looks like a cell phone display, the other fades in and out like a film student's project gone overboard in post-processing.
Please tell me that “cashew” in the corner can optionally go away in the next release...KDE stands strong on its own two feet without plasma, thank you, I hope this somehow tips the scale of critical mass of dissent.