I remember when the GNOME file manager was this kind of interesting hybrid that used MC for the backend. The one thing I liked about it was that it could be docked in Window Maker. Yep I was using a Dock in GNOME waaaaaaaaaaaaaay before most GNOME users.
Nowadays it’s still possible to replicate my old Window Maker desktop in XFCE.
I’m saving this for later, I have people send me print ads (yeah really) and this will help.