Look the changelog: http://ftp-master.metadata.debian.org/changelogs//main/g/gnome-shell/gnome-shell_3.8.4-5_changelogIt's not just lack of interest, they purposely want to make their product unportable. Too bad for them, I guess... it's not like GNOME is the only available DE.
Now Gnome Shell and GDM can run for us?