How about:

Control Panel | Network Connections | Local Area Connection | Properties | Show icon in notification area when connected = yes

I second this one!

!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: After doing a little research, this might be a little more difficult to do. The key on my machine is:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\{9C512CF9-22C5-4B77-A438-ED351CFFB9B4}\Connection]
"ShowIcon"=dword:00000001

and the 2 sections in braces are unique to my machine, so I'm not sure if it is possible to get the id's especially if someone were to change the NIC after install.

It probably won't be possible as an after the fact tweak but maybe as a pre-install mod to the default hives......