minimalistic:

I have only a PIII 800 machine here, so I
always prefer minimalistic theme. Plus I
use my computer to do work, not as a display
figurine to show off, so functionality should
be more of a concern than look.

altho look is also important, but I don't
really want super cool-looking desktop with
supersmall font that is hard to read and
graphic that clutter screen realestate


apps :
I use 2 - 3 apps (trillian, ultra edit, putty is
the most frequent ones ) that usually runs at the
same time. usually I navigate them by alt+tab but
I put a taskbar in my theme anyway, it's still
useful too an extent

components:
(u mean modules?) labels, ckhotspots, taskbar,
and VWM are my favs. those module that I don't
use much / considered to be useless, I just don't
load them ;p