I checked it and see no defect. Could not find any case when the Search/Replace docked bar would cause any usability issue. I am not sure what you mean by "..hover over one of these buttons and it pops up over the top of it". If this is to point out the fact that Search/Replace is no more a pop-up but a bar attached to the bottom of the editor window, then this is by design, as requested by majority of users. 

Nevertheless this might be a defect which just needs more detailed description from your side so that we understand better what's wrong. Can you please attach a screenshot to illustrate what you see broken ?

Reducing priority to P3 and reassigning to Milo for reevaluation and second opinion.

Created attachment 115466 [details]
Example

As you can see from this example, first image I have searched for something, 2nd image I have tried to click next, mouse went too far and hovered over search results. Now the find/replace is hidden behind it. Ridiculously irritating. If people want the docked crappy version like this they can go right ahead. But make it so I can undock it as well like everything else in the program. All it needs it a checkbox in options "crappy docked search and replace yes/no"

Although Harry Shepards words are a bit harsh, I also FUCKING HATE that new find/replace thing at the bottom. I desperately want the popup back. Please Please make some kind of configuration that makes that possible.

I understand that some people (majority? dunno ... have never seen a survey on that topic) prefer to have a fixed docked JTextfield at the bottom, but why do you just erase a long established feature to replace it with something new without preserving the oldschool popup and introducing a possibility to let the user make a choice?

As FIND (and sometimes REPLACE) is one of the key features I need in an IDE the new method of finding actually made me switch back to NetBeans 7.0 and use CTRL+H instead of CTRL+F.

I don't want to be stuck on an old version of NetBeans, so please bring the popup back.

Every time I use this feature it gets more and more annoying. I double click on a word, ctrl+h and it counts my current highlight as the first match. Stop that happening please, never used to work that way and it's crap.

Copy a class, I want to go through the fields renaming them without having to go back to the top to start the next rename.

Also, I have focus in the find what field or replace with field and hover the mouse over the output tab which pops up over the top, then move the mouse away so it hides again and it's lost focus of my field.

AND, tab from replace with and find what fields should highlight the text in the field. This feature is utter shite I want the old find and replace in the MIDDLE of the screen it avoids every single one of the issues with this new crap position of it. Let the morons who want it pinned to the bottom or side or wherever else they want it pinned select that in the options please. Going to get eclipshite if netbeans keeps getting worse and worse so annoying

Hoovering and then loosing focus is in fix in Bug #207730. Highlighting when tab is already fixed. 

I understand there is always somebody who doesn't like a change. If I provide option to have search/replace panel there will be two implementations, twice of maintaining etc. If there will be a measurable interest (votes, feedback in satisfaction survey), I am willing to refactor search and replace into maintainable code with two graphical outputs (bar and panel) in 7.3. 

Btw, I had more positive feedback than negative.

*** Bug 233608 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

This old bug may not be relevant anymore. If you can still reproduce it in 8.2 development builds please reopen this issue.

Thanks for your cooperation,
NetBeans IDE 8.2 Release Boss