[GTALUG] Favorite desktop manager?

I just installed Debian 12 on a new laptop and took Gnome as desktop/window manager. I really insist on something more Xerox PARC style. I had been using Xfce, and liked it until (following Debian 10 software updates) it began to act strangely. A few months ago it started to kick up a huge fuss about difficulties starting the Panel after a restart. About 2 weeks back, following an upgrade, the Desktop area stopped displaying anything -- no wallpaper, no icons from the Desktop folder -- just gray. That prompted this move to Debian 12. I might go back to Xfce, and assume my troubles just resulted from being 2 major releases back, but before that, what do other people use and like?