Pretty positive review for the standard desktop. Some small negative points about the Unity lookalike called Mutiny.
https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20180122#ubuntumate
A very good review. Until I read it, I wasn't aware that Ubuntu mate has two Unity-like configurations: Mutiny and Contemporary, and both have the HUD (head up display) feature of Unity. I had no idea that HUD could be incorporated into a non-Unity desktop. Although I rarely use the feature when running Unity, it is a good one for quickly finding the menu function you are looking for in a particular program. Ubuntu mate (and the mate desktop to a large extent) has made tremendous strides in usability, and is now well beyond gnome 2 in useful features. I'm guessing that even the small glitches in Mutiny will be fixed by the next version if not before.
Most of you are hooked on Windows xp/7-type menu function, which the standard version of mate provides. Me, I'm now a convert to the vertical dock on the left side of the display along with the ability to find an app not on my dock by typing in the first letters of its name. Unity, Gnome, Cinnamon and mate all provide these options, and I think xfce, Budgie and KDE do as well. This is what I love about Linux - lots of choice!
I liked Ubuntu MATE over the time that I used it. I preferred the Cupertino layout back then. It's an excellent distribution and on our list of Beginner Linux Distros (https://plugintolinux.ca/node/414).