Previous versions would log me in automatically.
Did you request the client to save the password in the session file?
In the old version I could specify that I wanted Gnome to start in the client application.
You can do that in the 4 too. Configuration now happens once you have connected to the server, not before connecting, so that the player can query the server and check what is supported. You tell what desktop environment you want to start at the time you create a new desktop. It seems you are using the free version, thus you are connecting to the existing desktop and so you get whatever is running there already. To be able to create new virtual desktops you need to install NoMachine Workstation.