We would need upstream acceptance of TDE in affected projects for this to be viable. If this is not done, then users will notice a

degraded

experience when basic programs such as Synaptic cease to function properly. These users would then note that such applications work properly under KDE, and logically conclude that TDE is broken.

I think this is a lesser of two evils problem, and would like to keep the dual test in at this point.

Thoughts from others knowledgeable in this area?

This should not be about lesser evils. Ugly approach! :)

Who upstream is making this problematic? Is this a Debian-only issue? Is this only a packaging issue? Please explain more. What exactly is needed to provide remedy?

Trinity is recognized as an XDG desktop. Upstream, whoever they might be, need to get on board. I doubt "upstream" has failed to support other XDG recognized desktops. TDE != KDE. :)

I created a tdelibs patch and am rebuilding now. I'll start testing thereafter.

Darrell