I've only been using 10.9 for a few hours but I have already noticed that some of the unnecessary decoration was removed. Notepad, the notification sidebar, launcher, widgets screen, etc have been toned down.
Scuttlebutt says next release might be your savior.
I'm glad as I never bought into the "Skeuomorphism is the devil" hyperbole and find iOS7 particularly unpleasant to look at.