but go ahead and and continue to waste your time ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
i'm kidding tho
Since you don't use it have you tried the slim taskbar option? It might appeal to you, you can find it by right clicking on the taskbar, going to properties, and selecting "use small taskbar buttons".
How else would you search without a search bar? I mainly use it because I don't know of any other way, and I have always had one so why not.
Its in start regardless of whether you have it enabled or not, Win + S brings it up regardless.