The way I handle it is I have my Essential palettes open as default in a linear workflow (how I work through my own images). I’ve been able to remove a few palettes which I used to keep in Essential as they are aren’t far away, on the buttons. I’m as sceptical of trendy user interface changes as anyone, but after having the chance to play with these changes, the new system ends up being a big step forward, hardly compromising our existing way of working. We still enjoy a default Essential tab, it’s the unlisted one. For simplicity’s sake, a first tool button should probably be added: Essential. At that point, one of those tab buttons would have to be open at all times. There would no longer be an option to have none enabled.
But that’s splitting hairs. Now that I know I can disable the buttons by clicking the active one, and go back to my Essential palettes, I’m totally happy with the new interface.
When there is progress, we should recognise it as progress and be grateful.