BTW, I've been using linux as my primary desktop for over 10 years. Gnome3 is ill suited to the work I have to do. Can someone explain to me the advantage of not being able to minimize an application ? It's not workable.
You can still minimize apps - right-click on the title bar, and click "minimize". (Or use the tweak tool to re-enable the buttons.)
However, I use the mouse-swoosh to switch between active windows. It is quite workable, for me, and after a while it seems quite natural. I don't find that it takes any more effort than gnome2-style minimizing and panel-clicking - less, actually.
But, use whatever works for you!
- Mike