My 2 cents:
I am and was always curious about Linux desktops and like to try out this and that to find the optimal solution for private and business use.
Even though I have a rather high-end laptop I think a lightweight environment could get the maximum even from such a machine. So I had a look at XFCE...
It seems like a lighter Gnome and can be customized to even look acceptable.
BUT: For 10 years now they can not manage to handle the super/meta key to open the stupid menu, just like every other DE can. That may sound weird, but that already turns me off a lot.
Also when I tried in in a virtual machine (Gnome Box) it was always the case that after a simple update the DE wouldn't load anymore after login.
And that is not only on me. If you search the Internet, that kind of stuff happens for years now.
I like the idea of XFCE, but they have serious problems that render it unusable.
Also had a look at LXQT, especially combined with KWin. It looks nice and is usable. But has no serious support for HiDPI and that in 2021. So, that fell off as well.
I am running Solus Budgie as a daily driver and it is mostly fine for me. Even though some things could still have better workflows and it is kind of half Gnome (Settings), I like it for its simplicity and clean interface.
Some things I miss from Cinnamon, which I would have continued to use if it didn't freeze from time to time, forcing me to a hard reboot, which already destroyed data on my machine.
That kind of stuff doesn't happen on Solus Budgie!