Not sure I understand "Minimizing will defeat the purpose." You could assign a keyboard shortcut to a key on your keyboard to minimize the active window on the desktop.
Windows key + Down Arrow = Minimize the active desktop window.
To then open Task Manager on the desktop again, use the keyboard shortcut: Windows Key + Number or Count of the Task Manager icon from the Start button on the Taskbar. For example; if Task Manager is the 4th icon to the right of the Start button, press Windows key + 4, and that will open Task Manager window on the desktop.
If Task Manager is minimized to the taskbar and you press the key you assigned to quick launch Task Manager, does it open another instance of Task Manager, or just open the existing Task Manager session? If it just opens the existing Task Manager session, then you can use that key to open the Task Manager window on the desktop.
So, you could assign shortcuts to two keys on your keyboard; one to open Task Manager, and one to minimize Task Manager.
I'm really not trying to be a jerk. I'm just trying to suggest alternatives to mitigate your issue until if and when this issue is resolved in an update to Start11 or Windows 10.
Start10tweak is a Stardock utility located at "C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start11."
