The best replacement for taskbar is start menu.

The best alternatives to taskbar are rated as following:
★★★★★  start menu
★★★  desktop icons
★★★  start button
★★  toolbar
★★  icons on desktop
★★  icons
★★  dock
★  desktop
★  system tray
  quick launch

Your alternative for taskbar is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about taskbar, one probably shouldn't forget about rocketdock.

Other search terms related to taskbar and their ratings are:
★★★★★ rocketdock
You have in mind a companion for taskbar and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of taskbar in all years. Click on graph for more.
taskbar
start menu
desktop icons