Comment # 1 on bug 1178311 from Neil Rickert

I think I disagree with this.

If I install with a generic desktop, then "icewm" is installed.  But
NetworkManager is not installed unless I select that.

A user can install nm-applet.  It does not need to be part of the basic
install.  Similarly,  the file ".icewm/startup" is a user file, not a system
file.  So the user has to decide whether to start "nm-applet".  And that
probably won't work unless you also install and start a suitable polkit-agent.

I do have a system with only a generic desktop.  It is installed in an external
drive intended as repair/utility appliance.  And I did actually install
"NetworkManager" there because it doesn't require explicit configuration of the
network device (usually wired).  But I don't expect to need "nm-applet".  If I
really need to use WiFi, then I can probably manage with "nmtui" or "nmcli",
both of which are installed with "NetworkManager".