Version:            (using KDE KDE 3.1.4)
Installed from:    Unlisted Binary Package
Compiler:          gcc 3.3.2 (Red Hat Linux 3.3.2-1)  CCRMA distribution of Fedora Core
OS:          Linux

With active borders enabled, it is difficult to place the cursor at the bottom edge of the active desktop to enable the panel to pop up without popping into the adjacent desktop. This is because there is no difference between where the cursor needs to be to unhide the panel and where it needs to be to pop into the adjacent desktop.

This used to be handled in Gnome (before they removed their version of active borders) by an adjustmemt that allowed the top of the panel to peek up into the active desktop by a specified number of pixels. That way there are two seperate zones of action you can traverse to get either the panel to pop up, or if you put the cursor right on the edge of the desktop for the specified time, you pop into the adjacent desktop. This worked very nicely.

The only workaround is to depress the left mouse button while approaching the edge of the desktop. This prevents the active borders from popping you into the adjacent desktop. The problem with this is that it causes problems with the active window if it is as large as the desktop, e.g. unselecting text, because of the depressed mouse button. I usually have all my windows as large as the desktop, so I have only one application per desktop. This is not so great because this is a bit fussy and doesn't allow quick traversals of desktops.