Re: [Trisquel-users] Using MATE for Trisquel 8 was smart, considering that some say Ubuntu MATE is the best version

[dguthrie]

It is preference. Mate and XFCE are not really functionally different.  
However, I would argue XFCE is more lightweight and customisable. Mate also  
has its own strangely-named applications not really functionally different  
from the GNOME equivalents, and its own terminal, so although you can launch  
the GNOME task manager from the menu, the GNOME terminal won't show up. I  
thought this was very odd. Personal experience though; Mate is easy to use  
and quite accomplished, although if you are looking for a GNOME equivalent  
with a traditional layout I tend yo prefer XFCE or Cinnamon.
To be honest I use Ratpoison now so what do I know about desktop  
environments...