Any Blender window can be filled with whatever function is required, and split, either horizontally or vertically, so as to compose the view that's right for the circumstances. I can't speak for 'palettes' as such, as I mainly use the 3D functions, and colour things with UV textures, not 'paint' as such. Blender has many facets, and those that I use for 3D are quite different from those used, for example, by a sculptor, or photo-real artist. The GUI stays the same, however, so I could easily adapt another's set-up for my own usage. The mouse movements and keyboard shortcuts would be those I wish to use, and with a 'right-click' on any command, I can add it to an 'express' menu fro my most common function calls. For another project, I may well change these for a more suitable set. It's very flexible, not rigid at all. I doubt that Windows, Apple, GEM, Linux, Unix... whatever... could design a GUI that would be perfect for everyone's use in every situation without offering some form of personalised configuration. 'Horses for courses', and 'We're all different' and all that, of course. I had a look, and couldn't (rapidly...) find a 3D package that adheres to the Apple standard, either. A gap in the market, maybe..?