> [..] multi-touch gestures to use to find that chrome popup window that disappeared [..]
This may not help for your case, but it may interest keyboard shortcut junkies.
When I was getting used to the "interesting" way OS X handles CMD+TAB versus Windows' ALT+TAB, I was also frustrated at the app-vs-window issue.
I eventually figured out this workaround, which sounds complicated but is now muscle memory:
1. Hold CMD. (Don't let go until I say so.)
2. Press TAB once.
3. Tap the arrow keys (LEFT/RIGHT) to go to the correct application, e.g. Chrome.
4. When you have the correct application selected, press DOWN. (You can release CMD now.)
5. This will display all of the open windows for this application (same as "4 finger swipe down" gesture). You can use the arrow keys to navigate this. An extremely subtle blue halo is displayed around the selected window. Press RETURN to select.
This may not help for your case, but it may interest keyboard shortcut junkies.
When I was getting used to the "interesting" way OS X handles CMD+TAB versus Windows' ALT+TAB, I was also frustrated at the app-vs-window issue.
I eventually figured out this workaround, which sounds complicated but is now muscle memory:
1. Hold CMD. (Don't let go until I say so.)
2. Press TAB once.
3. Tap the arrow keys (LEFT/RIGHT) to go to the correct application, e.g. Chrome.
4. When you have the correct application selected, press DOWN. (You can release CMD now.)
5. This will display all of the open windows for this application (same as "4 finger swipe down" gesture). You can use the arrow keys to navigate this. An extremely subtle blue halo is displayed around the selected window. Press RETURN to select.