For anyone wondering where the #$!& you go to create filters now, I found it: you have to click the down arrow on the edge of the search box and then in REALLY LIGHT GRAY TEXT at the bottom of that dropdown box is the text “Create filter with this search.”
I think the choices ebb and flow based on what google thinks you do often.
Compact mode certainly helped, so definitely thanks for that. But could someone please tell me how to get back to my contacts? I can’t seem to find them anywhere. Help!
The little down arrow next to Mail, top left. Right above Compose.
Thanks so much! That got me there. 
html view isn’t messed up with new look so far, thank goodness.
use to be with gmail, they would hook up my emails so much i had unread emails. now this. i cannot even see a forward button to forward an email. gmail got me mad for the last time i went to yahoo. i love yahoo’s news to read.
The new layout has terrible contrast and it’s very hard to find anything. The contrast can be fixed to a certain extent with the compact setting and a new theme, but it still doesn’t fix the layout. I’m glad the old layout is still an option, and has been for many months.