I checked out Cocoanut back in the last quarter of last year, so they really got on it then to update it. Still, I would not use a distro that I cannot update properly. I know there is a lot of dislike for gnome but I like it, it generally works well for me and as long as you're not trying to revive an old XP box, it's cool.
As regards the welcome screen, two things, A) I would just like it gone from my list of windows. B) it doesn't matter if I control alt D, it still screws up Orca for as long as it's running.
Anyway, this is why I like Arch, yeah there's more chance for breakage, but also more chance you'll get something where bugs will have been ironed out of packages other distros still hold back from you. For instance, no trouble at all, none with the version of Mate I got from Arch's repository.
Facts with Tom MacDonald, Adam Calhoun, and Dax
End racism
End division
Become united