I really like MATE as a lightweight DE. Once you step up from the pure Window Managers, and Enlightenment (which is actually one of the lightest weight full DEs out there), XFCE, LXQT, LXDE and MATE all seem to be in the same category in terms of systems resources. LXDE is discontinued, LXQT feels a little incomplete, XFCE is very modular and stable but always seems to require a lot of tweaking to get right and can feel a little disjointed, MATE usually just works, is very intuitive and runs everywhere (including the BSDs). I have found MATE to be as lightweight or lighter than XFCE, so given that it seems to be a little easier to use and configure, and in most cases as lightweight at XFCE, I just go with MATE as a lightweight DE. Isn’t choice great though, so many options…
I find it interesting that Gnome has so few users on EOS. It seems like every other distro Gnome is the main one used.
I never really liked gnome and was running KDE on my hybrid laptop for the longest time. I went to put KDE on my new ryzen 5 and 5700xt build and it had multiple issues for me, many apps would just crash to desktop for me.
So I went to Gnome with the new 3.36 release and honestly it is pretty good. I do miss KDE’s dolphin and its ability to split the tabs and krunner was pretty good as well.
I used KDE quite a few years ago, then xfce. Finally switched to Gnome (with a few extensions) about a year ago and it’s now my preferred DE. I tried KDE again a couple of weeks ago once I saw how popular it has become and I just can’t do it. The UI reminds me of Windows out of the box and I don’t really like to do a ton of customization. Maybe one day!
I mostly use Xfce and Mate, my opinion is that the former is a bit easier to configure, both are “lightweight” desktop environments.
I prefer Cinnamon, mostly for the xapps. XFCE makes a fine host for Cinnamon when a distro doesn’t have a Cinnamon ISO.
I am currently using Plasma and I am really liking it.
I think you’ve nailed it. Plasma is a tweaker’s dream (er… let me rephrase that…). If there’s something you don’t like, for the most part you’re not blocked from changing it. If DEs were states of matter, Gnome would very much be a solid, immutable and unchanging. KDE’s Plasma would be a gas, etheric and capable of reforming.
Whether we like to work with a blank canvas, or have our world drawn out for us, they’re equally valid in just allowing you to get the job done. (Right tools for the right job / human).
@anon43355446 I really like what you have done. It looks very nice!
Great that you like it. All the stuff is available in AUR. Reading README seems to be unavoidable. 
I will take a look at it in a VM. I am currently very happy with my Plasma install and the minor customization I have done. Who knows, I might like it even better than what I got now!
Well, this is for tinkerers and GTK users. I haven’t seen KDE for years.
I use Cinnamon and I am loving the experience.
I have installed EOS-Gnome as well but I haven’t spent much time with it yet.
All in all I am very happy with EOS and at the moment Cinnamon just ticks all the boxes for me.
I love tinkering with things. When I do, I like doing it in a VM first. Much easier to start over if I mess it up.
I’m using plasma. First of all, it’s modern DE tweakable to your preferences, but still light on resources. It’s amazing how it can run on old machines without a hitch, with SSD instead of HDD. The only thing I’m missing is font rendering which has some inconsistencies compared to Gnome.
I was also long time Unity user, and had some use of Cinnamon as well.
I love lxqt just enougj for me tweakable and open to choose which wm and its lighter then xfce. With featherpad and feathernotes are nice tools from lxqt and user manager from lxqt is good… is not everyones friend but for me is stable even some little bugs
I love Gnome the most, I think KDE has the best customizable options, but I still use XFCE
Why?
KDE has too many small bugs for me. Which is logical, because it is so active developed.
Gnome on Arch with extensions leads to breaks every major Gnome update
Xfce just works.
Beautifully said…I agree…
KDE looks beautiful, Xfce works …
Xfce because it’s light, look great and it just works. Also Cinnamon because all around it can’t be beat. Plus KDE because it also awesome. Also like Mate as it’s an old die hard.
I always start on KDE and end up in XFCE . I think my laptop only likes XFCE 
Besides that XFCE works . No friend of mine ever complained about XFCE not working in any distro neither do I have any such experiences . Plus lighter than Plasma , lower RAM usage and faster 
for everyone I know