I would like to upgrade to 11.10 but....

[silameth]

I hate the unity interface, is it still being forced on you in 11.10?

[QIII]

I use straight-up Kubuntu from kubuntu.org.

You can install Ubuntu and then install and use another DE. You are not locked in. You are not forced in to anything.

[silameth]

Thanks.... I will look at it then!

[2F4U]

You may have already heard that there are more variants than just the default Ubuntu distribution, so I don't really get what you want.

[QIII]

Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Edubuntu, Mythbuntu ...

There are also DEs off the beaten path.

[oldfred]

I like fall-back if you want to stay with gnome. While not exactly the old system it is not unlike an updated version where some things have moved around a little but most functions seem to be there.

Install 11.10 with screenshots of Unity, gnome3, & gnome fallback - Not everything is necessary, but shows how to do many things
http://debianhelp.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/to-do-list-after-installing-ubuntu-11-10-aka-oneiric-ocelot/

[silameth]

You may have already heard that there are more variants than just the default Ubuntu distribution, so I don't really get what you want.

I just like my Ubuntu with gnome, I like launchers in the top panel.