In the last versions the Administration and Preferences have been changed, but it became overloaded.
Following items would suffice
1. Hardware-Manager controlling all the Hardware (Bluetooth, Printer, RAM, Harddisks, Power-Manager, System Log, etc.)
* Please allow to disable or enable each component or scale their performance
2. Network-Manager to configure different profiles for networks (WAN and LAN, Bridging)
3. Monitor-Manager (resolution, different USB or DVI monitors, etc.)
4. Sound-Manager (Codecs, Outputs, Inputs)
5. Profile-Manager for Users, Groups, Sessions, Services
6. Pakage-Manager (including their Configuration like Wine or Sun)
7. Software-Manager for non Ubuntu-Software (to open files, pixmaps, etc.)
8. Time-Manager
9. Peripherie-Manager to set what to do when a is attached (USB-Printer, USB-Cam, USB-Scanner, Keyboard, Mouse, Tablets, etc.)
10. Partitions-Manager
11. Theme-Manager (Wallpaper, Log-In-Window, Folders, show fileextension, GRUB-Theme, Compiz, Screensaver, fonts, windows, etc.)
And group the rest as tabs into those items.
Authentitification for restricted tabs requiered.
12. Storage-Manager to manage behavior of DVD/BluRay/USB-Stick or other storage devices inserted

And please do not install all this software (Games, rhythmbox, gthumb, serpentine, CD/DVD creator, Connect to Server, etc.) or the folders (Videos, etc.) which noone needs.
Add the VPNC to "Connect to Server" and move it to Internet.".
Please erase System Programs from "Add/Remove"