I really think that Windows 2000-era Windows Forms had the user experience nailed perfectly. It wasn't the prettiest UI paradigm ever, but it was the most functional and easiest to teach. Nothing was omitted, and the user was shown everything they needed to see in order to get a complete idea of the state of the application.
I don't think that efforts to hide UI elements that aren't in use is going to prove to be a good idea when we look back at today from the future.
Here's a good rule, in my mind: Don't hide UI elements from the user. End of rule. I do not care if it looks better without whatever UI element. The toolbox in my garage would look better if I could only see the tools I needed at the time I need them, and I would return that toolbox (or never buy it in the first place) because it is constantly lying to me about the state of the toolbox, which is absolutely insulting position for a toolbox designer to adopt.
I don't think that efforts to hide UI elements that aren't in use is going to prove to be a good idea when we look back at today from the future.
Here's a good rule, in my mind: Don't hide UI elements from the user. End of rule. I do not care if it looks better without whatever UI element. The toolbox in my garage would look better if I could only see the tools I needed at the time I need them, and I would return that toolbox (or never buy it in the first place) because it is constantly lying to me about the state of the toolbox, which is absolutely insulting position for a toolbox designer to adopt.