"Nick Hodge" wrote...
IYHO

The lack of ability to park any toolbar-like sets of icons on left,
right or bottom sides of the application window is an objective and
verifiable fact. No opinion involved. It's possible to create modeless
user forms containing objects that look like toolbar icons of old, so
rough equivalents for floating toolbars could be hacked but without
drag & drop customization.

This constitutes reduction in choice as that word is usually defined.

Only things that are matters of opinion are whether this is good or
bad and whether the old grab bag of toolabrs constituted welcome
variety or confusing bloat.