Impress Task Pain

Each and every time I open an Impress window I have to close the task pane. No, I don't want it. I don't need it. It just consumes screen space. If I need it I want to be in control and open it myself and close it afterwards when no longer needed.
RFE: The state of the task pane should become a persistent Impress setting.
ISSUE# 95600

C. /IBM says: Indeed, this has annoyed me for years already; in search of the hidden option to turn off this "feature", I came across your post. Thanks for raising this!