It seems to me that Opera (and operating systems) are increasingly forgetting that not everyone uses or wants tablets or smart phones. The traditional screen plus keyboard is still the only sensible way of inputting data into a database for example.
I have used Opera from way back when you needed to pay for a licence, but was delighted when it became 'free to use'. I am quite happy with version 12.16 on Debian and will be reluctant to switch to the more recent versions (which I have installed on a Win7) as too many of the standard features we have been used to are missing.
My biggest gripe is the change to the way bookmarks are used, I currently have around 200 in my present bookmark list, many of which relate to my genealogy research so easy access to them is essential. Switching to Speed Dial and looking for them in a folder isn't anywhere near so simple. At least the Bookmarks Bar is still available so I can put the most common ones there.