Yeah, if you need to install extensions to make GNOME usable, GNOME is not for you. Seriously, there are other options. I can't stand using GNOME, but they have a vision they are sticking to and I can respect that.
Cinnamon is so close to the way I configured Gnome with extensions. Just that Cinnamon does not need any extensions for that. Best GTK based DE I think.
Conversely, after I tried vanilla gnome, I can't go back. It gets out of my way, is pretty bug free, visually consistent, and the workflow is lightyears ahead of anything else I've used.
The Win95 UX paradigm that pretty much everybody uses just seems so clunky to me.