Running full screen when the apps you're using does sensible things in full screen mode works reasonably well on OS X - I use OS X for one of my clients, and live mostly in iTerm2 and browsers. It still feels different, but, yes, it's close to what I'm after. On my Linux box, I'm chasing moving that functionality into my wm, instead of needing my terminal etc. to support it - since it means I can mix and match apps and switch between floating and tiling + opening/closing screen-like virtual desktops.

I honestly don't know what will feel ergonomic on a modern setup - I'm chasing nostalgia in part, but at the same time I'm fully aware that I remember it with very rose-tinted glasses, so I'm trying to stepwise approach some mix of the nostalgic elements that works with my existing setup.