Here is an old video showing fading effect going from maximized applications to minimized.
I could have watched that all day and would never expect it would be gone in 2015.

1) Seamless swipe: "fade to minimized" - effect -> today not anymore thanks to some added curtain effect

2) Concurrent animation of the fading maximized version and the video on the app cover -> today no more, as soon as you start to swipe to minimize the app, the large, fading version freezes and only the cover plays.

3) Despite those "useless" efects I felt there was less chance any of those 3 streams getting interrupted by OOM as was introduced end of 2014 (a year later) -> today especially the internet radio stream might become paused

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTA2a5pOlFc

Now try this again on the 2.0 preview version to compare with the current situation. Boring, isn't it?

Certainly there is a lot to like in 2.0 preview but at the same time Sailfish OS is shacking off its natural cool factor rapidly.

Cover swipe actions going M.I.A. , the irritating remorse timer , cool multi tasking animation effects (nobody cared for?)..