I tried really hard for about a year to use gnome without extensions.
I'd say at best in the end it wasn't annoying me too much.
Recently tried dash to panel again and yeah. I'm not going back.
I do not understand how people manage multiple programs open without a tray. Do they just memorize in what workspace everything is at all times ?
How long did it take for it to click for you? I tried for about a year and it never did to me.
I ended up quite fast at it but it never became natural.