> we believed they died

Actually, I never believed that. Wherefrom did you conclude that they had died? 7 months ago, Velcro_SP started a thread here on MZ to prove that they're alive and active in Asia:

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6436&forum=11

> the usual X-Window desktop (which one was it?)

https://morph.zone/modules/newbb_plus/viewtopic.php?topic_id=6176&forum=11#61275

This in turn uses FVWM as X window manager.