This was the only place that mentions google chrome and home page, so this is my problem, I would like to give google chrome a go. I like the open feel on the screen compared with IE. My only hangup with it (apart from the hidden favourites which is clumsy, I agree with the OP) is that i can't get it to open with my preferred homepage. I have all the right settings in the options tab but it opens with this page which is annoying. You lose the fast feel of it fiddling about going to the homepage.
http://disable-tabbed-bookmark-manager/