>> Don't windows in GNOME have a minimize button by default? And then you use the overview to bring the window back if you want? Am I missing something?

No. By default there are no maximize and minimize buttons. They were explicitly removed:

https://digitizor.com/gnome-3-maximize-minimize-buttons/

You can add them back with gsettings changes or "tweaks":

https://trendoceans.com/how-to-get-minimize-and-maximize-but...