[Produce]

>Popular distros like Ubuntu and Mint have shifted away from it.

This is news to me since my colleague, running Ubuntu 12.04 is using Gnome/Unity. Did I miss a memo?

[wtracy]

Unity completely replaces the Gnome shell.

According the Gnome people, you're no longer using Gnome if you're not using the Gnome shell. Whether that's true is open to interpretation.

[Produce]

That makes sense then - I wasn't aware of the fact that Gnome Shell and Unity were distinct. Thanks for the memo!