I run Ubuntu without Unity on both a laptop and desktop (my window manager is ion3/notion). Both work fine. Wireless on the laptop just requires "docker & nm-applet &". (That was in 11.10, I'm not even sure if it's still needed.) I'm even using nvidia drivers on the desktop, though I did use some gui stuff to install them.

I've been doing 'sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop' and getting rid of Gnome/Unity since 8.04 - no pain involved. Maybe it does not apply to XFCE/LXE/others (I don't know) but it's one command to stick KDE on top of Ubuntu.

I have zero problem with wireless under gnome-shell, xfce or lxde (and if you can function without NetworkManager, console too) so my question is how you even got that idea.

Nonsense. I've been using Ubuntu exclusively for a year, and alongside with Windows for at least three years before that, and I've never used Unity. First I've ditched it for Gnome Classic, then for Gnome Shell and finally for Cinnamon, and I've never had any problems that would arise from the lack of Unity.

Running gnome-shell here, apart from the odd maybe-breakage for a few minutes after OS upgrades, everything works perfectly.

> The point is if you run Ubuntu without Unity that it breaks a large amount of functionality. Wireless for instance becomes a complete pain. Lots of stuff like xorg config is now embedded in unity.

Absolutely none of this is true. I don't even know how you can say it, because it has no factual basis.

You must really think I'm dumb. I run Ubuntu without Unity on a daily basis and everything works. The fact you think you can lie to my face about my own setup is simply astounding.