Me and probably a couple of other cave dwellers use Mate (someone must be, because it keeps getting maintained). It has a the Win 9x-era aesthetics and simplicity that I've not found anywhere else.

Yes, another MATE user here (UbuntuMATE). I like how efficient and boring it is. It's also very consistent.

But I'm worried we're being left behind with the shift to Wayland.

Maybe that is unfounded.