[player2121]

It feels like google web-devs/disigners should start looking at the native apps to get an idea of what the user expectations for the web-app are going to be. If we look at microsoft web outlook, it is gradually becoming like its native counterpart (which is the best desktop email client on my opinion). They didn't have a good web expertise like google so it was too sluggish at the begning but it's getting better. If webassemply becomes a thing, MS will have a good chance to bring its dominance to the field of web apps.

What's interesting is that I remember how devs and designers were frustrated when they were asked to build a web version of their desktop apps finding it too hard to fit into new constrains. Now, I wont be surprised if web-devs/designers feel frustrated too trying to build a desktop app with a mental model of HTML documents and page reloads which is what the new gmail UX looks like to me (the old one was not better, I just got used to it).

If it was up to me, I would focus only on performance and accessibility. I would cut all animations and use much simpler (bare text if needed) ways to present information. Today when you can be fast on web, no need to compensate lack of it with too much content and animations.