I used Ubuntu from Edgy Eft to Karmic Koala (2006-2009) but had to switch to Windows because there were just too many programs I needed for school that I couldn't get to work for Ubuntu. I'm a huge linux fan and advocate, having switched a good many friends to it over the years. I've finished school and I reinstalled Ubuntu - but what is going on here??

I understand what unity is versus gnome and all that, I'm just very concerned at where our customisability went? (at least in a user-friendly way). I hated that unity bar at the left (I have a small screen and horizontal screen space is more valuable to me) and wanted to move it but I couldn't figure it out after trying a few methods. So I switched to 'Gnome Classic' thinking I could operate like I used to. No such luck

Even in gnome right now I can't see to do anything. Why can't I right-click on anything to modify it? Why can't I remove things from the panel I don't want there? (when I right-click, all I see are 'launch' and 'properties'). I got a 'gnome-tweak' tool to try and change my themes and stuff but nothing seems to work!

Anyways I'm not so sure I'm going to even keep trying. Ubuntu used to be a lot more intuitive to me but I've had to go to dozens of tutorial sites just to try and figure out how to do simple things. I'm not looking for advice on these specific things...I'm just wondering what happening to the Ubuntu I knew and loved I might check out Mint or something...I hear it might suit me? (though it's based on ubuntu right?)