Since this thread started with such radical ideas, why not go on with this line…
My 2c:
-do we need taskbar? why not use task switcher, like one in Beryl (Compiz-Beryl or whatever it’s now). It uses screen edges and corners, which are mostly unused as triggers. Mouse has usually 3 buttons, but they all usually have a function already. So by using screen edges and corners we get 8 new ‘buttons’. One could use it by just moving the mouse to the corner/edge of the screen and get a result (like in Beryl) or by moving the mouse to the corner/edge of the screen AND clicking some mouse button so the edge/corner is like a function key (like in RunIt, http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=33).
-do we need ‘haiku’ menu? why not use desktop like in XFCE? and if desktop is covered? well we could use one or more screen edges/corners as a place where one could always click with primary mouse button and always get a ‘haiku’ menu. it’s VERY easy to throw mouse cursor to th closest screen edge and click. (btw. also used deskbact ;). deskbact is not needed when one could set in system preferences that if there’s free edges/corners we could activate ANY application with this, be it Workplaces or any other.
-clock and tray? well, which part is unused usually in application windows? window’s top border. usually there’s application’s name and after that it’s empty eg unused, one could use this space very well… or these 2 components could be attached to the ‘haiku’ menu witch is activated from edge/corner. or maybe as a replicant that just sits there on the top or bottom edge of the screen, ‘always-on-top’, small enough to just cover part of the statusbar (of any maximized application)…
-about windows’ borders - from the practical point of view i didn’t personally like too much of the ‘beos’ type of windows’ borders. they gave the system unique appearance but weren’t very useful. i think having the window’s top border as wide as window is a much more practical solution. and maybe having different function on window border buttons depending on the mouse button used to click them (like in xfce, fluxbox for restore-maximize)? why not use right click on ‘x’ to not close the application but instead minimize/iconify it? that way we save some more space and use what we got more efficiently.
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on switching workplaces… well ‘workplaces’ was the best in its time compared to any os using multiple worplaces/virtual desktops and it could be still used but i think something new is needed. one way is using xfce approach and use third mouse button for menu or maybe even better - to invoke ‘workplaces’ on spot but i think the best way is using mouse scrollwheel to scroll through the desktops/workplaces like xfce or beryl. one could just throw the mouse cursor to the screen edge, scroll just a click forward or backward and get to the prev/next workplace. and maybe we could invoke full-screen ‘workplaces’ even from some corner or edge of the screen with mouse? or maybe one could have instead of desktop wallpaper a ‘workplaces’ application on the screen, under desktop icons? well, mayb not that…
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why so minimalistic? well, more and more people are using laptops and with small screen sizes it’s not very uncommon that 30-40% of the screen space is taken up by some unneeded junk. and linux desktops are a good example (be it with kde or gnome or even xfce/gtk) of wasting space. even windows has more space for work than linux. beos was good example of economical use of screen space - no unused gray areas no useless buttons (‘exit’ button? - WHY, if i have ‘close’ button on the window’s edge?) and so on, but it could be improved… i think that the best workplace/desktop would be without any distractions like blinking lights, windows popping up here and there and so on, but until the computers can read our minds, we could make the best of what we got. and we got more than we usually use…
btw. these solution should be implemented as OPTIONS, not the ONLY way. it’s good to have flexibility and options. and maybe someone likes blinking lights… 
all in all, what this mostly means (i think) is that the desktop should have more ‘component’ approach eg one could use different tools to achieve same or similar functionality. and these tools for desktop interaction could be developed by any enthusiastic programmer and added to the selection of already existing set of tools, so the interface can adapt and evolve. and anyone can make and love their OWN haiku. but it’s the same haiku underneath. so there will be no (more) interface wars on haiku like some linux desktops had and still have… and in the end, eyecandy without usability is nothing (but maybe a pretty screenshot) and ugly workspace… well that’s like going back to windows’95…
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi