I also use object dock. it is on auto hide like regular windows bar.
I tend to keep it clean as i don't really use desktop. Current games I play + steam are on object dock, firefox, word are there too. frostwire and torrent programs are on windows bar.
never understood why people use rainmeter... bunch of useless info which take space :) (drive usage? one look in My Computer gives you the same info, network info info is kinda pointless too. if you have use for your network IP then you should know it by heart.... well that's just me :D )
I do use desktop for one thing really. downloads. all my direct downloads go to my desktop where then i send them to their appropriate places.