The minimal window managers tend to mimic the design of older window managers, and here's the thing: Those old window managers were developed by actual usability experts who spent months or years studying this stuff. Modern design principles were developed by MBA-brained designers who needed to differentiate their product by making it look the same as all the others.

> Those old window managers were developed by actual usability experts who spent months or years studying this stuff

I'd be interested in some examples or references