Updating from PSE8 to ???

I recently upgraded from PSE8 to PSE13 and I am regretting it.  I don't like the new user interface at all.  Whenever I select a function, a large window with the settings opens up that takes up 1/4 of my vertical monitor space and shrinks the workspace.  I have to click a button to get rid of that, which is a LOT of extra clicks when you're switching tools a lot.  It was FAR nicer in PSE8 where most of the active settings just showed up under the title bar at the top of the window and didn't use up valuable workspace, and the settings were available while you were working instead of needing to open/close a huge settings window.  They also took away "Color Variations" which I found extremely useful.  If there was a way to get a refund on the software I would return it, but unfortunately no one accepts returns on opened software. 

If anyone knows how to get the user interface to behave more like PSE8, I would love to hear it!