Ah, another missive from a software developer who regards users as a mere annoyance, just discovered Machiavelli, and favors intuition over feedback from those users (because intuition always trumps evidence, unless you're A/B testing the color of your "sign up now!" button, in which case evidence always trumps intuition). Never seen anything like this before.

If you like Gnome, great. If you don't like Gnome, you should use something else. Arguing this old subject hasn't yet accomplished anything, and there are plenty of alternatives available now. (I really like KDE4.)

If project developers are genuinely screwing their pooch, then a stampede to alternatives will convince them far more thoroughly than even the most well-crafted internet argument. If there's no stampede, then people are just arguing personal preferences in the face of popular preferences, and they'd still be better off switching to something else.

Save passionate arguing for situations in which it can do some good.