I can confirm at least the second point of the original bug report ("cycle virtual desktops by using the mouse wheel on the switcher applet") - the wheel apparently no longer has any effect on the desktop switcher applet if Desktop Effects are enabled. In my opinion switching on "Visual Effects" should not change the actual functionality of the desktop :-) and personally I would prefer it if the taskbar switcher would with compiz the same as without compiz.
I can confirm at least the second point of the original bug report ("cycle virtual desktops by using the mouse wheel on the switcher applet") - the wheel apparently no longer has any effect on the desktop switcher applet if Desktop Effects are enabled. In my opinion switching on "Visual Effects" should not change the actual functionality of the desktop :-) and personally I would prefer it if the taskbar switcher would with compiz the same as without compiz.