The default and then templates in Panel Profiles are more than enough for me. I rarely hold the mouse to click on an icon in panel, instead set up shortcuts for the apps I use frequently. Also, the shortcuts to snap window to the left, corner or maximize are important. Those are things I use most.
One thing I find not comfortable is the left Win key when it's bind to Whisker menu. Moving from Budgie, I used the left Win + E to open Files Manager. Here it shows the Whisker menu first, then File Manager when I hit this combination. But I could live with it by training myself to other combination, like Ctrl + Alt + E.
Another thing I miss when moving from Budgie is the Win + A to see the calendar and switch Audio sources when I'm in a call, or when to switch from speaker to headset.
For the notification, I find Xfce integrate it better to the apps, or browser. When the notification comes, I could click on it to bring me to the app.
Rather than that, I find Xfce is super smooth, stable, flexible to custom, nothing to complain. I also like the big LCD clock, it catches my eyes when I want to check the time.
