But one of the reason also is because of Android and iOS. Always three or so apps at the bottom.
A Dock makes more sense than a taskbar on a phone or tablet.
A windows 98 or windows XP look would be really hard on a phone or tablet.
Well people get use to iOS, Chrome, Android Dex it is well less of learning curve for all the people using iPhone or Android phone now.
And more OS makers are going that way now, and well Microsoft is making more midway look. I don’t think Microsoft will go all the way to not come across OSX clone. But a looking really close just not a clone.
Even Android Dex and Chrome OS have it so it less of learning curve having a app like icon than a taskbar.
This is less friendly on a phone or tablet.
Sort it be more like taskbar that acts more like Dock.
Even windows 7 started this move. Not a classic taskbar but a taskbar that acts more like a Dock. Windows 11 just moved it to the middle than the left and the start menu displays icons and name now not a list view like before.
Also making the learning curve similar to people use to way Android, Chrome, and more so the iOS that is very popular in the US.
It comes down to really.
A. classic windows 98 and windows XP look
B. OSX/ iOS look
C. midway look that is used in windows 7 and windows 10 and more so in windows 11
D. Windows 8 metro look.
Windows 8 was a major flop so Microsoft does not want to go that way and does not want a pure OSX look so is finding a midway look.