The wonder of choice (Score 1)

If you don't like Ubuntu, use Mint. I do like it so I'm going to carry on using it. It's not a big deal; it's the open source idyll. Ubuntu is backed by a comercial entity and they can do what they want (within the licenses that apply), including breaking with the traditional Gnome desktop to try something new based on their own research and business goals. At the same time, they share all their enhancements as open source so that others can take it in a different direction. That's exactly how open source is supposed to work. It's actually quite refreshing for the primary fork (of Unity, in this case) to be focussed on specific, narrow goals rather than wide customization. Let's see what level of polish they can achieve with a narrow, Apple-esque, focus rather than getting bogged down in the weeds.