[mhd]

I'm still surprised how used we all got to the modern, somewhat simplistic file management metaphors. Icon/list view plus "shortcut" panel, wherever you look. I still remember that for years after Windows 95 came out, one of the first applications everyone installed was a better file manager, quite often some GUI Norton clone. Then there was the "spatial Finder" hullaballoo, echoed by GNOME, too, if I remember correctly. But in recent years, that market niche seems to be on the verge of extinction.

Probably for the same reason why keyboards are getting increasingly worse: No "hardcore" users. Pictures, music and similar files are "managed", lots of other stuff is exclusively accessed via a single application and its open dialog, leaving maybe the all-purpose Documents folder to be the target for occasional visitation.

And the desktop. Oh heavens, the desktop...