This is kind of the problem, if you add multiple apps in a random workspace, the only way I can think of to know which apps are in the background of that workspace is to memorize it. Which feels bad having to use my brain for that instead of focusing on whatever I’m doing.
If vanilla GNOME doesnt work for you, just install extension or move to another DE.
I’m trying dash to panel now, it seems to fix quite a few of my gripes.