I can’t remember the last time Google added a new feature to the Personalized Homepage, actually, have they ever added a new feature? I’m not sure if this is something they are “rolling out” like new GMail features but I just noticed that I have a minimize button on all of my modules.
It is pretty nice because I am then willing to put a few extra modules on my homepage and keep them in the minimized state until I need them. I don’t like that the button is so close to the “X” (for deleting a module) because I have already clicked on that twice by accident. Luckily after you delete a module it gives you the option to “undo” it by providing a simple link at the top of the page. I would have liked it a little better if the minimize button was on the left side before the module’s title, but I guess I can’t get everything I want. 
The other thing that happens every now and then are those recommendations for New Stuff (as seen in the screenshot). I’ve had that happen a few times and I am yet to see one that has been interesting enough to add. There should be an option to disable those notifications.
I agree, those notifications have never provided me with anything of interest. I think Google should add a proper tabs feature. I have the tabs module, but it loads every module first before rearranging them – meaning it still gets slower to load with more modules. If Google added tabs it could just load the modules for each tab, making it quicker.
From what I’ve seen, Google Personalised is loosing ground on Windows Live Home in a big way.