Since the point is to make a binary compatible bug-4-bug identical release changing the included packages in the default product is not something I would support.
I see a few viable options to try and provide the request while not “tainting” the core distribution.
- Simply keep using EPEL packages, at least until such a time that it appears EPEL may not be supported.
- If EPEL packages won’t be maintained then either:
- Take over EPEL packaging in a new add-on repository for Rocky
- Take over only KDE Plasma Workspaces packaging in a new add-on repository for Rocky
- Form a Rocky Linux SIG for KDE Plasma Workspaces (Cinnamon etc. etc.) the community members of the SIG maintain the variant(s) of the Rocky Linux Distro.
The first option is the simplest, there should be no reason this won’t continue to work as it does today. The second (and third) options I only suggest if EPEL shuts down and “we” choose to provide alternative options to obtain packages previously maintained by EPEL.
The third option can obviously be selected by community members even if EPEL continues to exist. However similar to prior suggestions I think focus on the “task at hand” makes the most sense to keep the focus on current goals before the interest(s) of new SIGs.