1) Install debian, but don't choose to install the desktop environment 2) Install the programs you want, e.g. 'sudo apt-get install xorg openbox chromium' 3) When you want to browse the web, run 'startx'
I've switched to running my personal laptop and work desktop this way. Granted I'm not a typical user, but it's surprised me how much of the modern linux desktop I can strip away and still have a pleasant experience.
Recent (and rare) release a few weeks ago (most updates are just pushed through distro-upgrade commands) : http://crunchbanglinux.org/blog/2011/11/27/crunchbang-10-sta...
The prerogative over time seems to be continued experiments in the art of minimalism and simplicity. I like that (I love that).
By default a gdm/gui/login kicks in at bootup ... I always kill that ASAP so I can "startx" or somesuch manually.
It's worth your time to try it! (You'd hear more about it but it's 100% word-of-mouth)
Sure: if I didn't have a 9-5 job I'd build everything myself on top of Arch or Debian ... I don't have the time and #! fills in the gaps for me.
Will definitely give it a try!
FYI, the latest ISO now uses SLim instead of GDM.
Thanks for sharing about rcconf. I'd never heard of that Debian tool before.