Thomas Maus composed on 2016-03-08 21:07 (UTC+0100):
The KDE gear will not convey the same message to new users that it conveys to users intimately knowing KDE3.5 (and actually KDE4.7+). In other words: it conveys the wrong message to most of the people. IMHO nowadays it does damage to TDE.
Lest it not be clear, "IMHO" means *opinion*.
The web is rife with complainers. Happy users don't say much, so that you see some mention that TDE is "stale" it does not follow that "most" feel that way.
IMO, Trefoil_Knot_3TM.png is far out of character with the nature of TDE, much too intense for a mature and stable product outside art, graphics or film industries. It would send a wrong message. TDE is not intended for those for whom bling is a priority.
OTOH, a gear is symbolic of something that works reliably and steadily, and endures.