Linux Mint: real competition for Ubuntu

If you have been keeping with Distro Watch, you will have heard of Mint by now:
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint

A nice, fresh, fast and slick distro!

The 1st question is whether Ubuntu’s “Precise Pangolin”, version 12.04 planned for 2012 and currently in alpha, will be able to revert the trend and rate of adoption of Mint.

The 2nd question is whether users have realized that they can revert to Gnome and drop Unity as a Desktop.
- how to guide: http://www.liberiangeek.net/2011/09/use-gnome-desktop-with-docky-in-ubuntu-11-10-oneiric-ocelot/
- video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xDXeOsLQ3k

WikiVS on Mint vs Ubuntu: http://www.wikivs.com/wiki/Linux_Mint_vs_Ubuntu