It would be very helpful if:
I agree with you that it would be very helpful to adjust the interface, as I feel it taking up a lot of screen real estate, too. But I think any improvement in this direction is a development task that is too big for an inbetween update, so if I was a developer, I would put this on the list for the next major (paid) upgrade.
Personally I would prefer an option for the left, right and bottom panels to expand by a mouseover to the respective side and to collapse automatically when an item on another panel or in the top bar is clicked on. An option to adjust the spacing and general size of the items on the panels would also be very nice, and the icing on the cake would be transparency of adjustable intensity.
Most of these panels can be hidden by those who work primarily through Popovers and the Jump Bar, including custom key-combinations one can create for individual needs.
We donāt have any plans to allow you to change the order of items in toolboxes and panels. In general this makes the software harder to use and support, rather than easier: if every user can reconfigure the interface radically, it makes it very difficult to provide meaningful support.
It would also very likely be the case that people would inadvertently remove things from panels and toolboxes that they donāt think they want to use, very likely before they have fully learned the software, then find themselves needing it later, and end up completely mystified about why they canāt find this option, having removed it months ago and having no memory of it because they didnāt know what they were doing.
We do have some sympathy to the views of those who want to be able to ātear offā the panels in the different zones, and we may consider that in future. But this is not something you should expect in the immediate future.
Again, I am not in any way affiliated with Elgato, but their Stream Deck makes for a very nice and thoroughly customizable user interface! 
Likewise, and agreed! Iāll add to this for the benefit of newer users (some of whom seem to miss the Finale interface):
I think the order could stay the same within groups of controls in toolboxes and panels. What would be helpful is if they could float to user defined positions. For example. the note panel, for those of us who do pointing device entry of notation, would be more efficient if I could place panels over ādeadā or āwhite spaceā of the score with which I am working and resize or reorient (from vertical to horizontal display of the tool options in the panel simply by dragging one side to make it longer or shorter).
It would decrease āmouse timeā moving the pointer always to the left to select the note or tie or slur or playing technique. Yes, I could probably learn the keyboard controls for that but as a cross-over user from Finale, I have to say that floating tools make it quite easier for those of us who use only the mouse/trackpad for notation entry.
Thatās the beauty of GUIs - user customization for what works best for the individual user within reason.
Not interested in additional software but thank you.
Just so you know, Dorico was conceptually developed around a non-touch, laptop-centric paradigm.
Mouse entry/editing was/is actively discouraged by some users, and I always found this regrettable; actually until about 2 years ago, mouse use felt somewhat grafted onā¦
I since switched to a small MIDI keyboard (being a guitarist, mind youā¦ 
) and Stream Deck in order to avoid memorizing all those key commands. I use some and have customized quite many, and now am very happy with how Dorico feels, but as stated, I had to massage it quite a bit.
Touchscreen input is still pretty dismal, but I usually use my multiscreen studio machine with Dorico, so I donāt notice it as much.
B.
Itās actually a piece of hardware (can use your phone too), that allows you remote control over software and ability to set up complex macros without the need of memorizing a single shortcut. I and many others have found it to be life-changing or at the very least a huge time-saver.
I would encourage you to try something new, and after a week youāll be flying. The keyboard shortcuts are pretty intuitive. In your example, S = slur, T = tie (U = untie). Couldnāt get much easier and faster than that, and in fact better ergonomics than mousing.
I also recommend printing out this quick reference card, makes it a lot easier to memorize the basics.
When in doubt, type āJā and basically ātalkā to the software by typing what you are looking for, and it will direct straight there. Itās super fast.
Regarding tear-away panels and movable UI elements, I understand the utility to some users for convenience, but I personally find it makes a messy and confusing interface with floating elements everywhere. To each their own, and I do respect your viewpoint. But anyway, give the keyboard shortcuts a chance ā and check out Stream Deck!
With just the occasional charming āstretch,ā as in this one so nicely described by Lillie:
Appreciate your insight and Iām using the card though I tend to revert to what I see on screen because I am such a visual learner. Iām not complaining as I am very impressed with Dorico but there were some time saving features that I exploited in Finale that do not have an equal here - I will learn what works best for me as I go. Thanks, again!
Thanks. I worked really hard to become less of a keyboard user and more of a trackpad user with Finale. Not sure I want to go backwards because I have become quite proficient in that regard with pointer accuracy and speed. Using both seems a little antiquated to me but Iām antiquated, too! Adding devices or software for iOS devices (yes, I am an Apple person 100%) is contrary to my minimalist mindset but, who knows, I might change my mind about that at some point. Again, thanks for your input and response!
Welcome to the forum! Iām sure would be many of interested in those Finale shortcuts that are not matched in Dorico. Iāve long forgotten how I used to work in Finale so Iām no help there. More recent users such as yourself are far more valuableā¦
Appreciate your information and insight. Itās not horrible with trackpad/mouse input but I do miss some of the flexibility around this type of input that I was able to force out of Finale being a recent convert to Dorico (less than 3 weeks!). I will say that Dorico has been easier to learn as I was productive, though not terribly fast, within 24 hours of use so Iām overall quite happy!