For me it is one of the worst Canonical moves in years. I understand that they want to push the use of Snap packages and motivate developers and users, but this is not the way. It is not because it is confusing, the less inexperienced users will not find some options and the more advanced ones feel a lack of freedom ... unless we install the old one GNOMEsoftware and let's continue enjoying everything as before.
And it is that, at least today, the Focal Fossa's Ubuntu Software does not support Flatpak packages, for example. In addition, just as Discover can show up to three versions of a software (APT, Snap and Flatpak if we enable support), the new Ubuntu 20.04 store only shows one, Snapcraft, forcing us to install the Snap package even if we have the APT version. available from the official repositories ... unless there is no Snap package, which then does offer the APT version. Like I said before, confusing.
GNOME Software supports Snap and Flatpak
As we explain in this article on how to enable support for Flatpak packages in Ubuntu, until Ubuntu 20.04 we could make the Ubuntu software store show Flathub results if we installed the "gnome-software-plugin-flatpak" package, but at the time of writing there is nothing like it for the new Ubuntu Software, and I doubt that Canonical will allow it in the future.
So why do we have to use the new software store? What advantages does it offer us? Now that I have been able to test the two in depth, side by side, I think so, that Canonical should try to improve support for their packages, but not at the cost of BOTH confusing and harming their users SO MUCH. As long as something does not change, such as relaxing your methods by promoting the Snap more but showing the APT versions even if it is hidden, I am convinced that the best is install the "gnome-software" package and continue installing software as we did until Eoan Ermine.
I liked the change to Unity little, so little that I switched to Ubuntu MATE as much as I could, but it was a matter of taste and it was not so bad in powerful equipment. The store change I think it's bad for all users, and I know that many of you think the same. Let's hope Canonical backs down and if not, we can always install other options.