There’s a tutorial when you first sign into GNOME which shows you where to go.
Consider this: Is it obvious that the four-square logo on Windows is the start menu? It is if someone told you or if you spent your whole life on Windows. It’s not if you come from macOS (which has no main menu per se) or you’re unfamiliar with computers.
Besides, the new indicator does exactly what’s written on the tin: it shows you your virtual desktops when you click on the preview of which virtual desktop you’re on.
I’ve not been around windows users for a while, but last time I checked my mom was very lost when she had to start an app which hasn’t an icon on her desktop.
More generally I heard that in general having to rely on a tutorial means bad design, which seems reasonable.
Of course it’s hard to estimate how new user will react without proper testing, I’ll trust the Gnome team who proved to be good at their job 🙂
