I'm not too experienced with GIMP, but I noticed that all the transformation of a selection in GIMP is done with a tool. In Photoshop if I quickly want to scale, rotate, and reposition a selection then I can do that with the controls around the selection. With GIMP I have to select the scale tool, scale, then select the rotation tool, rotate, then select the move tool and move it. Have I just not found how to turn those controls on? Because it feels inconvenient.

I do love that the undo history is in a prominent position on the UI.