That is a radical suggestion, but that may be exactly what is needed. An outsider with a fresh look. I’ve always thought that MODO had the best UI for a 3D app. I’d like to see some of that aesthetic in Rhino.
Of course, any complex or powerful software will have A LOT of commands. Its not just 3D, take a look at any of the Adobe Creative Cloud apps, like Photoshop or After Effects. I think the same guy who was intimidated by “too many icons” may just be in the wrong field … or is a big, whiny baby.
It reminds me of a Steve Martin joke. “Did you know that the French say ‘Bonjour’ instead of hello? It’s like they have a different word for EVERYTHING!”