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KDE Plasma 5.13 Released (kde.org)
jrepin writes: KDE unveils the final release of Plasma 5.13, the free and open-source desktop environment. Members of the Plasma team have focused on optimizing startup and minimizing memory usage. Plasma Browser Integration is a suite of new features which make Firefox, Chrome and Chromium-based browsers work with your desktop. For example, downloads are now displayed in the Plasma notification popup, and the Media Controls Plasmoid can mute and skip videos and music playing from within the browser. Browser tabs can be opened directly using KRunner via the Alt-Space keyboard shortcut. System Settings design has been improved further. Window manager gained much-improved effects for blur and desktop switching. Wayland work continued, with the return of window rules, and initial support for screencasts and desktop sharing. You can view the changelog here.
Yes. KDE is "still around".
A quick google of "best linux desktop environments" results in...
It might not be the best for you, but it's still one of the top DEs.
Don't let the devs year you call it KDE 5 - they are quite adamant that there is no such thing. It's "KDE Plasma" and they will deny the existence of KDE 5 for hours before revealing that fact if you ask them about it in a support channel. Just a cautionary note for KDE users - DO NOT use the term "KDE 5" if you ask for help from the KDE support people, you'll never remember what your original issue was until the discussion ends.
I used to use Gnome and some of what you say is true, especially the resource demand of Gnome. More recently I've been using KDE on openSUSE Tumbleweed and it's been awesome. They have really smoothed over many of the roughest edges and tuned it up to be very light on resources. It offers compelling features such as KDE Connect to link up with your mobile Android phone and is very slick in that regard. And KDE is definitely nowhere near my-way-or-the-highway territory. It is extremely customizable and has become more intuitive in how to do so in the 5.xx series. Finally, I'd say that the desktop in general is a shifting paradigm, but still an important component. I think they are as relevant as any other desktop setup in their respective ecosystems. With containerization and things like Snaps and Flatpaks becoming a simpler way to distribute apps on Linux, the desktop has many compelling things to offer a user.