i've always been able to minimize windows from the alt-space window menu. but they are enabling all kinds of customization through the extensions. i have transparent windows (every window, not just apps that support it as part of their functionality), tiling through the Forge extension, the tweak tool gives you lots of stuff including restoring the minimize button to where you think it should be, and there is even an extension to give you your system tray back. but now the gnome team can just focus on putting together the essential parts, and people who want thefunctionality you describe can build it and install it through the extensions.

i, too, was a bit put off when they ditched the gnome2 look and feel, and i stayed on xfce for a long time. but my job had me using windows and i found out that i like just hitting super, typing what i want to do, and then it happens.

now, the software center's tendency to tell me to reboot for updates is something else. we can hotswap kernels now. don't fucking tell me i need to reboot.

usable task bar in gnome

Just one easy to enable extension for this, but it should definitely be the default. Overall I like the stock GNOME experience and find it clean. When you get the hang of GNOME it starts to make sense. Super key is the answer.

KDE is obviously more powerful, but I don't like customizing my desktop very much so that point is moot for me.

I'm going full KDE for the next 6 months, you should try GNOME for a bit, give it a solid chance with extensions.