Xfce4
Appearance
Xfce4 is pretty usable on Nokia N900.
Installation
pmbootstrap init
User interface: xfce4
Extra packages: xf86-video-vesa mesa-egl libinput xf86-input-libinput
applications| settings| windowmanager Default-xhdpi Font ... 16?
settings|panels, panel1, hide panel inteligently, 53 pixels. settings|panels, panel2, hide panel inteligently.
With configuration above, you get this. Only obvious problem is waste of space at top of the screen.
Simple status window without decorations can be put there. Plan is to display battery / signal status there: