I think you and all the replies to the parent have missed the point trying to be made. If you view the homescreens in iOS as your desktop, you don't want all your apps littering it with shortcuts. The op is talking about having to setup folders to hide away apps that they use rarely but don't want to uninstall. Android handles this in a far better way, where you have an app drawer that pulls up all your app icons on a grid that is easily searchable if you want to get to any installed app. That frees up your homescreen to be used for exactly those icons and widgets that you want, which is a lot nicer than the iOS way.
What stops you from putting everything in a folder called App drawer, except the most used apps you want on your desktop?
Lack of notification. So you end up with a giant folder with a single "NEW NOTIFICATION" star above it. Then you have to open it and scroll through the limited 3 x 3 view.
The hard limit on how many apps a folder can hold?
If you weren't aware: You can fit 135 apps in a folder. Folders inside of folders are also supported so there's practically no limit.
I was aware since I just made that exact point. You want an "App drawer" folder that has a hard limit of 135. Not to mention the terrible UX of folders at that scale.
Folder in folders are not supported, except via strange glitches.