Ubuntu Dust theme: give me some advice

Because of the feedback on my minireview, and in the interest of honesty and trying out a new thing, I’m giving the Ubuntu Dust theme a spin on my main desktop. So far I’m still very underwhelmed, but I suspect this is mainly becaue I have not yet tweaked my way to the optimal set-up. Please share your own themes and convince me that Dust is all it’s cracked up to be!

Minireview: Ubuntu ‘Dust’ theme

This theme has been getting a bit of attention on Digg today. I don’t like it. ‘Visually neutral’ does not have to mean ‘less exciting than your dad’s favorite tie’. The grey of the window background is too dark against the titlebar, although it does make a nice contrast with the text entry box. The close button, circular, dark and small, is playing too hard to get. The tango icons integrate well but that’s not saying much. I like the alternating white and grey lines in list view but they add only function, not visual appeal. The glassy gnome panels are a definite win – why was that look not applied consistantly across windows as well? I feel I’m being too harsh on this design, but perhaps it’s more an expression of confusion over the hype.