>my feeling is that this visual/usage clutter can create confusion and anxiety in users
Designers have been stomping all over presenting useful information under this assumption for the past 20 years. Speaking for myself, I am sick of the hypersimplification of what should be useful tools. Complex workspaces have complex needs, and that's OK. Doesn't mean we can't find ways to improve, but just hiding things isn't the answer.
I think the onus should be on the UI designers to present features when they are needed. This means making an effort to model the users' workflow, which is not trivial.
A good first step can be seen in Lightroom, where the TAB key will hide the tool palettes, leaving the entire (uncluttered) screen available for examining and selecting/ranking photos. Hit TAB gain to get the palettes back when you are ready to use one of the tools.
Just putting 20 icons along the edge of a window and washing their hands of it seems like a cop out to me.
Designers have been stomping all over presenting useful information under this assumption for the past 20 years. Speaking for myself, I am sick of the hypersimplification of what should be useful tools. Complex workspaces have complex needs, and that's OK. Doesn't mean we can't find ways to improve, but just hiding things isn't the answer.