I've used Synaptic a bit, and it does feel slow, compared to apt-get and the like, I've played a bit with aptitude, should re-check that out I think, it's sort of in-between. I have to say that apt is more helpful than yum, making suggestions etc, and that covers sometimes when I make a blind stab at what a package should be.

My panel is dark so I don't even notice the line there, but generally I try to use Gnome-Do instead of the menus. If you ever try to go back, I suggest Do, most everything I want to get at, I can get to with Do, which is Keyboard controlled. Your setup was my inspiration to try to minimize menu use ;)