As a result, there is still a significant amount of Linux users using 2D desktops. For example, I'm using Gnome 3 fallback (i.e. classic mode) with xmonad. I know quite a few running AwesomeWM with no DE, and others using Ubuntu 2D.
That being said, setting up xmonad or AwesomeWM requires a higher initial investment but you gain more control and efficiency in the long run. It's the same argument for using vim/emacs over notepad.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2402047/Screenshot%20from%202013-02...
It's not doable on OSX or on Windows. It's damn fast on my own macbook (2008 edition) and on my work desktop (i5, 16 GB, SSD)
I love Linux, but I don't like Gnome Shell or Unity (or KDE or something), and on Desktop it's easy, you just install awesome and run with it. But for a few years I had only laptop, and I was always afraid that things like sleep, or volume and brightness control keys woudn't work, because they seem to be tied with Gnome for some reason.
If you could share some more about your setup, that would be great.
https://github.com/pimeys/dotfiles
Also, two branches: work and macbook. The screenshot is from the work branch.
Here's an old demo of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyNkBLhIpQk
Looks like you're using Xmonad. I use it as well; it's the reason I switched to linux. It's unbelievable how nice it is to stop fussing around with overlapping windows! Combine that with all of the extensibility and you've got an incredibly productive environment (assuming you don't get caught up yak-shaving your xmonad.hs).