Perhaps some clarification here would help. If you got to the Maps page from "View the Geocaching Map" link in the "Play" menu or from the "View larger Map" link on any cache listing page you'll get to the maps page with the collapsible panel on the left side of the page with the "Set Map Preferences" button. If, however, you use the new search engine and click on the "Map these Results" link, it passes in a parameter consisting of a long encoded string that causes the map to be displayed without that panel and no way to unhide it. I have no idea why GS is using that parameter to hide the panel when called from the Map these Results link but it eliminates one of the most useful features on the map page: the "Save as Pocket Query" link. I've asked why this was done but so far I haven't heard anything from GS explaining why they did it this way.
Thanks.. I was sitting, staring at this new layout getting angry at the lack of google maps.