Heres my current setup which may give some ideas:
X11 Desktop:
* ROX desktop, filer (obvously) AND pinboard. (As a former RISC OS user, I like the 'desktop' feel of it)
* Openbox WM - standard but I want to change the default theme, haven't found out how yet.
* Matchbox panel, because I haven't looked into changing that yet, ROX panel isn't as good IMHO.
* xkbd - on screen keyboard
all with a gorgeous wallpaper, custom designed by mentat_bashar - cheers mate.
I also disabled screen rotation, I don't like it, it just mangles windows.
Development:
* zgcc - still trying to get it to work though
Productivity:
* Abiword
* Gnumeric
* Calcoo - RPN calculator I compiled
* xPDF - too slow for me though
* OpieReader - eBook reader - been using it for a long time under Qtopia and on my old 5500
* SciTE - I do not like it, going to try one as Jabbath recommended
Graphics:
* GIMP - of course
* Dia
* Gqview
* Xshodo - for Japanese calligraphy
Net:
* Dillo
* Sylpheed
I think the other choices are just too intensive/slow for use, plus I like them.
PIM:
* Korganiser/KoPi
* Dlume - thanks Jabbath
NOT forgetting: XMMS which I use all the time, Doom, Frozen Bubble and Mahjongg
Hope this helps a bit.
-Francis