@ventrical
I am sorry that I failed to reply to a question you asked of me. I have only just seen it. This comment was based upon the results that you and kansasnoob had declared. I was just thinking aloud.
I have now done a little testing of my own. I have just installed Ubuntu Gnome (Trusty) from yesterday's QA ISO image. Things seemed to go well. I get an option for Gnome Classic but no option for Gnome classic (no effects). Which is not consistent with what I found on Edubuntu (saucy converted to trusty - no trusty iso image as of yesterday). I have not yet installed gnome-panel on Ubuntu (trusty).
Now here is a weird thing. The Gnome classic session looks classic enough as I remember it all those years ago.
But when I move the mouse into the top left corner of the screen the Gnome 3 shell appears as if I had done that action in a Gnome 3 shell session. I suppose that is because Gnome Classic on Gnome 3 shell is a set of Gnome 3 extensions.
So, I am guessing that there are code differences between Ubuntu Gnome - Gnome Classic and Edubuntu and Ubuntu Gnome Flashback. I would also guess that as far as the Gnome Devs are concerned Gnome Classic (no effects) is dead and gone.
I do not use alternative desktops. They bring in more than the User Interface. I am of the opinion that they have reached a point to be too top heavy to be practical.
Regards.