WetGeek It seems I can get used to a top panel a lot easier than I would have expected.
you can get used to almost anything (but Gnome). in endeavour I've left budgie on the bottom. solus at the top--it's just like you say: muscle memory/feels right--all birds of a feather....but also like you said, once instinct takes over it's harder to go from version to version. there's benefit to some uniformity I think.