[GTALUG] Favorite desktop manager?

[mwilson at Vex.Net]

I just installed Debian 12 on a new laptop and took Gnome as
desktop/window manager.

I really insist on something more Xerox PARC style.

I had been using Xfce, and liked it until (following Debian 10 software
updates) it began to act strangely.  A few months ago it started to kick
up a huge fuss about difficulties starting the Panel after a restart. 
About 2 weeks back, following an upgrade, the Desktop area stopped
displaying anything -- no wallpaper, no icons from the Desktop folder --
just gray.  That prompted this move to Debian 12.

I might go back to Xfce, and assume my troubles just resulted from being 2
major releases back, but before that, what do other people use and like?