Not everyone is so protective when it comes to Windows. I don’t think Windows 10 & 11 are doing such a bad job. Enough tuning options, and yes sometimes you have to remove some of the things one person calls garbage and another one just loves, or doesn’t care about. I wouldn’t switch my Windows Start menu, giving money for anything like StarAllBack because I see no significant added value. It’s really not like ditching Windows Explorer for Directory Opus.
But I do understand some people want to keep “classic” - I have that with old cars. They don’t make beautiful cars anymore, I used to say. And “Who decided that our roads should be full of these ugly bricks on wheels” is almost a catchphrase in my circle of friends.
By the way: here is an article about using a floating Opus toolbar as a replacement for the Windows Start menu:
You’re certainly not the only one having issues with Windows Start menu.