The reason I didn't want to do that in Debian is that x-d-p-gnome Recommends gnome-shell, and circular Recommends prevent unused packages from being autoremoved.
In Debian, the gnome-core metapackage Depends on x-d-p-gnome. I think ubuntu-desktop pulling it in as a Recommends is also appropriate.
The only other place I can think of that might be appropriate to add it is to have gnome-session Recommends: x-d-p-gnome? That would probably be better to change in Debian and pick up from there, rather than having it be Ubuntu-specific.
The reason I didn't want to do that in Debian is that x-d-p-gnome Recommends gnome-shell, and circular Recommends prevent unused packages from being autoremoved.
In Debian, the gnome-core metapackage Depends on x-d-p-gnome. I think ubuntu-desktop pulling it in as a Recommends is also appropriate.
The only other place I can think of that might be appropriate to add it is to have gnome-session Recommends: x-d-p-gnome? That would probably be better to change in Debian and pick up from there, rather than having it be Ubuntu-specific.