Last time I checked, the third highest voted feature request in the built-in feedback tool is to take the recommended section out of the start menu. A couple years after launch the best we got is the product manager saying “we added an option to reduce the size :)” So it’s definitely intended for advertising, and I don’t do advertising. The professional version used to allow people to customise away that kind of bullshit, but not on W11.

Seriously, the Taskbar shit has me considering going to Linux for even my gaming pc, especially since they've said they have no intention of fixing it. So stupid to get rid of such a common customization just so you can see their fancy start menu.

I use "StartIsBack" it's so good. Makes the taskbar exactly how I want it (it's customisable). I've got it functioning closer to Windows 7 but with the look of 11 but still keeping it thin. Well worth the money. Shame it required a third party app for me to really like 11 though.