Drag a folder of application shortcuts into the the dock and you’ll have roughly the same thing

Like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/i3prgq/til_you_can_dra...

CMD + SPC for spotlight and then CMD + 1 gets you to the full set of apps.

Wow! I didn't know that cmd + number switches context of spotlight. Amazing tip, thank you!

Spotlight upgrades are really great in Tahoe.

Take a look at being able to search an app from Spotlight: CMD + SPC => "Mail" => TAB => then I'm searching all my emails