Absolutely superior on desktop, especially when combined with RES. It has also been what older users who started out with old.reddit have been used to. New.reddit is like forcing a social media site format like twitter or instagram on a forum type of website like reddit. Imagine a vertical twitter-like feed on a desktop browser. Inefficient and lots of wasted space.
On the other hand, lemmy web apps like Alexandrite provide a modern look while at the same time maintain the efficiency of a forum-style site.