Yeah, the taskbar is useful too. I keep my most common non-game programs in there. I have the START bar expanded to 2 rows, and have 16 program icons neatly tucked in there for my most commonly used programs.
Windows gives you all the tools to be neat and tidy and have things run smooth. You just have to use them. What you've got is the scenario where the office gave you a great filing cabinet, but you just lumped stacks of papers all over it and yet still wanted it to function the same.