So is changing the dock like that going to raise hell with applications that are running at shutdown? Is this talk of applications starting quickly once they have run some sort of 'hibernation' scheme? It sounds like this 'new innovation' could be trouble for too many people and their programs.
I like the old Dock and the 'light' to show what's running. 'Breaking' it like this leak claims just doesn't make sense. And the 'light' is so simple too...
This leads me to a perhaps silly question: What is the current state of OS X multitasking? Does OS X 'multitask' or is it where the current active application rules? Sorry if it's a silly question but I haven't noticed... I think that early on I would start iTunes ripping a CD and then switch to FireFox or some other program and the iTunes rip would often have gaps or other badness so I figure it's not the greatest at multitasking. I now rip on a dedicated machine and wait until it's done to use it for other things...
The OSX kernel is just as capable of multitasking as any other OS, as far as I know. I've never had problems with it. (thankfully, seeing as that's been a feature of PCs for a very, very long time.)