The first one is not a bug but a feature
to remove it;
right click the start button, and select classic shell settings then type 'shift' into the search box and change one or both of those settings
The second sounds like a bug (as it should display above the taskbar), you could either skirt around it with the following:
type 'task' into the settings searchox, and check the result labeled 'Show next to taskbar (when the taskbar is vertical)'
Or If you are willing to provide some debugging info IVO might be able to squash it in a future release
