While 'stacks' are great for either very small lists in the fan formation, or medium size lists with the grid view, there is a very tight limit on the number of files you can view in a 'stack' folder. Unfortunately every folder you add to the dock will become a 'stack' and always follows those rules.
QUAY by Rainer Brockerhoff solves this problem by allowing the user to add any folder to the dock, which when selected opens up as a scrolling list. Because this is a hierarchical menu, you are free to continue browsing through folders without adding windows to the desktop, a single click will open any folder, document or application and the menu will close.
While the software isn't free, one Quay menu will be usable until the software is registered, if you only want to have a usable Applications stack then it is perfectly usable without cost. -Not that the low registration fee of $10 is anything to complain about.