I'm going to answer your questions based on my own experience NOT based on Google Search because I believe you can do that yourself
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Also, I'm going to answer as per Lubuntu because I don't use another Distribution at the moment. Yes, I have tried Fedora LXDE Spin and Mint LXDE but haven't used them on day-to-day use.
1: can i run compiz? emerald? not too fond of openbox, other wms? - other compositing managers?
Yes, you can run Compiz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeuDBJ6I ... ure=colike
2: fixed window placement, as provided in compiz is essential to me, is that doable?
Sorry, not sure what you mean. I haven't used Compiz before because I'm not interested with such fancy WM. I just want my PC to work, that's all
3: is there a normal sane systray?
Any example?
4: can i run indicators as well?
Yes.
5: whats the status on gtk3 support?
Lubuntu Team is developing LSC (Lubuntu Software Centre) which is based on GTK3. The Stable version of LSC will perhaps be available with the release of 12.04, it's still on the development stage.
6: how configurable is it? i love how configurable kde is and xfce and gnome2 are ok too, but not unity and gnome-shell
Depends on your needs. Yes, it's configurable but you need to understand that LXDE designed to be used on Old Machine, Mini Notebook, etc so definitely it won't be as fancy as GNOME (I've never been a fan or even a user of KDE).
http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Main_Page
7: if i switch to lxde can i expect it to remain a useable desktop for years to come or are there plans to go unuseable like gnome/unity?
What is your definition of "unusable"???
As far as I know, GNOME, Unity, LXDE, etc are all usable but perhaps you mean easier to use?
LXDE hasn't reached yet the "Stable Version", however, it's very promising.
I started with GNOME but when I tried LXDE, I fell in love with it and I don't use anything else these days but Lubuntu (LXDE).
8: can it more or less mimic good old gnome2 with some tweaking?
IMHO, we can't really compare between GNOME and LXDE. Each has different approaches and designed for specific purpose.
LXDE is a Desktop Environemnt with Openbox as its Windows Manager.
As of today, almost all the applications I have used under GNOME or even Unity, I still can use it under LXDE. As for Tweaking, again, I'm not interested but I'm quite sure last time I installed Cairo-Dock on Lubuntu 11.10 beta 2, it was working without any issue. I was testing the beta version, that's all.
LXDE is much lighter than GNOME or other DE. Needs less RAM and CPU.
GNOME is GNOME. LXDE is LXDE.
9: anything else i should know thats very different from what im used to?
Yes, try it yourself and you'll understand how different it is.
Also, if I were you, I would do some search on Google and read some articles about it.