What happened to this button - is there a logical reason why it isn't included in the latest build?

Sure, but you're giving up space on your desktop to make that "favorites bar" visible. There remains the unanswered question - how does removing it benefit Opera or the user?

I've been using a Windows desktop for 28 years. Today I prefer using Opera but I've never used a browser without a home button. Now I have to open a new tab and close the old one. What benefit is that to the user - how does it benefit Opera? What is the reasoning behind removing it?

@burnout426 - interesting I just recently downloaded a copy of Opera to a newer computer but not 'Opera One'. To access the page you referenced I had to use the suggestion: chrome.settings.content.sitedata.
Will uninstall the Opera version I downloaded and Install Opera One

Newest version of Opera is broken and unusable.

.....at tleast for viewing my favorite news site (Daily Mail) which contains an outrageous amount of ads. Up until 1 or 2 months ago, I was able to benefit from the built-in ad blocking software, When that stopped working, I researched for another blocker and found Privacy Badger was working for some and it was working for me. At this point I haven't found any software that is working to block the ads with Opera. Moreover I can't even write comments without blocking software using Opera on the site because every new ad causes the curser to be disabled.
Fortunately for me, Edge still works with various blockers and this forces me to abandon Opera. Shame because I have used Opera for a long time as my primary browser and will miss it.
Minor annoyance is the "Menu" button at the top left is missing - as others have mentioned, minimizing and maximizing window returns the button. Truly disappointed.

I did find it, frustrating - it is well hidden (my creeping dementia partly to blame maybe). Thanks a bunch.

Don't know but I think you're missing the point - why should it matter what version of Opera I have? It shouldn't be an issue with any version. I'm having to use CCleaner to wipe history, which is a pain every time I close the browser. An option for this should be prominently displayed in the 'privacy and security' section of settings.

I've tried several times today to type 'amazon.com' into the address bar and upon pressing enter I'm sent to a a random Amazon page. That's bonkers.
Having a hard time figuring out how to clear history and cookies every time I close the browser which I suspect is the problem.
I really like Opera but hiding or eliminating this option isn't acceptable.

I did find it, frustrating - it is well hidden (my creeping dementia partly to blame maybe). Thanks a bunch.

@burnout426 - interesting I just recently downloaded a copy of Opera to a newer computer but not 'Opera One'. To access the page you referenced I had to use the suggestion: chrome.settings.content.sitedata.
Will uninstall the Opera version I downloaded and Install Opera One

@mcindcoder - that's missing now too leaving no way to clear cookies and site data when closing browser.

Thank you - that works. Always something new to learn.

I have a million bookmarks on speed dial - how can I delete them all at once

Hi. I have hundreds of Speed Dial bookmarks and want to move them to various other folders that I will create (youtube, tiktok, news, etc.). How do I do this?

Sure, but you're giving up space on your desktop to make that "favorites bar" visible. There remains the unanswered question - how does removing it benefit Opera or the user?

I've been using a Windows desktop for 28 years. Today I prefer using Opera but I've never used a browser without a home button. Now I have to open a new tab and close the old one. What benefit is that to the user - how does it benefit Opera? What is the reasoning behind removing it?