I'll chime in as well. First of all the main problem I have with this 'searching for the new logo' is that we are not really searching for the new Plasma logo, but an icon that could replace the k-gear one
1: the last version seems interesting, but I'm not sure I'd want it for the launcher. 2 - great idea, but generic (and even worse as the icon). 3 - again, a nice idea, but I don't find it visually appealing (though it might serve as an icon for KWin) 4 - as a logo great, as a launcher icon... not really 5 - looks mashed up 6 - I agree with Marco that this one looks best. Though, still not sure it is good enough, and how nice it is for the launcher icon 9 - This one looks strangely nice as the icon when rotated 45 degrees (see the file linked on the bottom - blue background, next to logo 4) but I don't like it as the logo I don't really find the rest to be able to compete with the above ones. I honestly don't think we should rush this for 5.8, we need more ideas. Cheers, Ivan