Comment 217 for bug 668415

@Marek Paśnikowski
As you say, the *shell* was developed from scratch. The Unity interface is a modified GNOME. Why would engineering it as a modified KDE (a desktop environment that it seems far fewer Ubuntu users choose, even though it is fully supported) be less "arrogant" than engineering it as a modified GNOME?

The other interpretation of your question is: Why does Unity not use the libraries present by default in KDE but not GNOME, when doing so might have been useful? The answer is: it does. It made sense for unity-2d to use Qt, so unity-2d is Qt-based.

"KDE manages just fine without strong single-entity leadership."

Perhaps that is because the enormous number of users who don't like KDE don't feel that KDE not being for them means that the KDE project has done something wrong, and instead just use a different desktop environment, rather than objecting.

I am *not* holding those users up as a model for good behavior. Constructive objection and discussion (which, contrary to what some people might say, is I think pretty clearly what most of the posts here consist of, including your posts) may not be the best imaginable way to contribute to a project, but it contributes more than nothing at all and is sometimes the only practical option besides non-contribution and silence.

Trying to change something is generally an indication that it is largely suitable, or at least more suitable than other options--otherwise, you just use something else. I do think Unity should be more configurable in certain specific ways, including and especially with respect to which edge of the screen (and of which screen or screens) has the launcher. But I would be reluctant to accept the idea that KDE is better than Unity just because Unity has certain problems that are not also problems with KDE.

"But I can do nothing as I have no power myself... I can only talk."

You can also use KDE, even in Ubuntu. Either install Kubuntu or, on an existing Ubuntu system, install the package kubuntu-desktop and select "Kubuntu" as your session type on the login screen (the gear menu). You've been talking about KDE as an alternative to Ubuntu, and while it's certainly possible to use KDE in a non-Ubuntu system, KDE is an officially supported choice of desktop environment for Ubuntu and has been for a very, very long time.