In KDE3 the task bar icons stretch from the top of the
task bar to the bottom. There is no space above or below the icons. That is, the icons fully fill the task bar from top to bottom.
In TDE the icons do not fully fill the task bar. There
is a thin space above and below the task bar icons.
Could you post a screenshot showing the difference? I never saw this myself and I guess maybe other also are not sure what you mean.
3.5.10: http://humanreadable.nfshost.com/trinity/3.5.10-taskbar-icons.png
3.5.13: http://humanreadable.nfshost.com/trinity/3.5.13-taskbar-icons.png
Darrell