Yesterday I did an install of Debian Testing without desktop environment. After installation finished, I installed gnome-shell and gnome-core.
I'm facing a problem with Nautilus and DEL for move to trash files. Now the default shortcut is CTRL+DEL but it can be changed (I have done it in all my distros) with dconf-editor in org->gnome->desktop->interface enabling the "can_change_accels" and then going to a Nautilus windows, select a file, go to edit menu, and hit two times DEL in the move to trash action. After this, disable again can_change_accels.
The problem I'm having now is that every time I reboot, the configuration is set back to CTRL+DEL. I've never had such problem, not even when I used Debian Testing choosing desktop environment in the installation menu.