In choosing a desktop for my Ubuntu 16.04 install, I looked at just about all of them. Creation of launchers for apps, files,and urls is important to me . And I want to be able to easily dock those launchers to a panel. It came down to Mate and Xfce. So far I am using Xfce and there is really only one big advantage over Mate. That is the Xfce Panel Switcher.
The Panel Switcher is a new feature of Xfce. It allows your current panel configuration to be stored, exported, imported, and installed … all with just a few clicks. This avoids the problem of having to repeat the configuration of a detailed panel layout, even when setting up a new install or a totally new computer.
Are there any plans to incorporate a Panel Switcher in the Mate desktop? I think it would make Mate a superior desktop and make life a bit easier for Mate users.