You can always run Synaptic Package Manager and remove apps you do not want.
However, if a friend comes to you next year and asks, "could you update my web
site," you'll wish you had FTP.

I found the article confusing when it compared Unity to Windows 7. I find that
Unity is very different from Windows 7, while Gnome 2 is very much LIKE Windows
7.

And I still can't figure out what concerns you about security.