As a tireless advocate KDE-3 user, I really want TDE has a long life and continue to develop and improve in the future (short, medium and long term). I look for a desktop that is configurable and complete (not simplistic as LXDE,...) and with characteristics centered in its useful for users and no a sample of technic virtuosity (tablet sense GNOME3/Shell/Unity, plasmoids KDE4,...). KDE3/TDE and XFCE4 are the closest to this ideal of desktop focused on what users really need to take advantage of your desktop (MATE is too simple, more inline with LXDE), and KDE3/TDE most than XFCE4 (KDE3/TDE is more complete in features). (My apologize for those who feel uncomfortable with this statements, nor do I have any interest in entering into a discussion about desktop environments).
I suspect we all share similar sentiments for wanting to use Trinity. :)
As a reporter of a lot of bugs, my biggest reservations about TDE has been little attention paid to solve bugs reported. I have find frustrating that TDE have a number of bugs significantly greater than its predecessor KDE3 (comparing TDE with Debian Etch and Lenny's KDE-3, I tested TDE in Lenny, Squeeze and Wheezy). Several months ago I volunteered to help with what little I can to do for the development of TDE (basically contribute with Spanish translations and report bug), but that I continue locating bugs back down me to invest time in translations and more. If you really are going to invest a lot of effort in TDE now to resolve outstanding bugs, for me is the best possible news!
Yes, this is good news and if all goes well, as the days go by we'll see a dramatic change in this area. I'm looking forward to this as well. Bugs have a nasty way of eroding a person's enjoyment of any software. The old adage about "death by a thousand paper cuts" rings true with software bugs. :)
The project road maps indicate this new emphasis as well.
So let's all take a deep breath, start hacking, and start testing the patches! :D
By the way, to help with translations, Slavek is the best person to contact about that kind of help.
Darrell