Not if you have a shade/unshade toggle with the Win/Super-L key like I did in my minimal-retro setup. Have the stacking set to "above everything" and you call or remove it whenever you want.
Same can bee done for the dock/bar. It's much easier to access that way and avoids "losing" minimalized windows in it's reserved space.
Allready done in my custom-retro theme as mentioned in the tutorial.
https://forum.elivelinux.org/t/tutorial-on-handling-e16-by-customizing-the-desktop
If you're referring to the top left instance where the CD jewelcase was: That's really shitty, just stuck there in the middle of nowhere. It really needs to go away.
That is an unacceptable argument for a designer. 
I disagree, they are too "in your face" and personal taste dependent....too Windows like IMO.
What's needed is a pretty but extremely unobtrusive default wallpaper but is fitting for retro.
i.e something along the lines of this:
Thinking more of a general Elive icon bundle not specifically retro. 
