Can't say I'm surprised - the GIMP is great if you can avoid all of its glaring UX flaws. Using it is a gigantic pain - it is simply my 'last resort' when I am unable to do something quickly in a less powerful but easier to use piece of software.
The GIMP had terrible, terrible, terrible UX, kind of based on a "fuck the end-users, I've got a horse outside" principle. Maybe philosophies will change for the better.
Maybe this is a good thing.