Windows interface dumbed down? It used to be that way since forever
If you want something else, use some linux derivate and install a window manager of your liking and use the shell to configure literally everything on your system. By the way, the command line now is an integral part of the windows operating system and let's you configure pretty much everything. Actually, newer windows versions are less dumbed down than windows xp and the likes.
If I ever need something special in windows 10, I just fire up the control panel which looks and feels the same as with windows 7. To open programs, I just hit the windows key and start typing: It doesn't get much more comfortable and faster (using an SSD) than that.