Fences resides on the Desktop much like Icons and, just like icons, they do not elevate to the top as an "active window" does. Completely different from a Window.
I use the Desktop Toolbar so I can launch something that way without having to minimize any window.
Show Desktop or windows key + D is the simple way to find the Desktop directly.
The Desktop will never behave like a window in Windows.
You can also create your own toolbars directly in Windows just create a folder and place the shortcuts you want in it. Then create a new toolbar and point to that folder. In fact any folder can be added to the task bar as a toolbar.
Please address this, I can't be the only one who doesn't want to close every other window to get to the fence
You already do not have to do that.