Just like in the wider world, it's easier to write an article if there's some big battle to talk about. Let's not go along with that. There are two competing implementations of a Linux desktop. The Linux community is richer for having both of them. The two embody different approaches to usability, different technical choices, and different organizational choices as well.
Nobody knows what is the best way to do a Linux desktop - if, indeed, there is a single best way.
The two projects are experiments which have a lot to teach us.