Until I actually installed and used Windows 8 (Release Candidate) I said the exact same thing.
Once I had it installed and running, I really hated the Metro Interface still do in fact. Then I pressed the Windows key and UP popped the Windows 8 Desktop. Same look & feel as Windows 7, minus the Start Menu.
Yep, I agree - not having the Start Button and Start menu annoyed the crap out of me. Then I installed StarDock which at least put something that resembled a Start button and menu back in place.
So I worked with Windows 8 a few hours and found myself quickly learning the CTRL-Key combinations to do all the things that the Start menu used to do for me. Lo and behold, I picked most of those combinations up in about 3-4 hours and now have them committed to memory. (I'm 50 years old BTW.)
While I cannot stand the Metro interface and it really annoys the daylights out of me that Microsoft mixed and matched two user interface paradigms, the SPEED INCREASE and REDUCED MEMORY FOOTPRINT of Windows 8 gave my 7 year old Quad-Core, 4GB memory Shuttle small-form-factor PC new life.
For example: Under Windows 7, simply having the OS up and running with my AntiVirus program and a few windows gadgets consumed right about 1.4GB of memory. I configured Windows 8 RC on the same PC (separate drive to boot from) installing the same services, same anti-virus program, etc.. Guess what? It consumes right about 965mb of memory - almost 500MB (.5GB) than the exact same configuration under Windows 7.
Running programs under Windows 8 is a heck of alot faster too.
Starting Word for Windows 10 took 7-9 seconds to see the Microsoft Office Logo come up, then a few second more for Microsoft Word to actually be running.
Same PC with Windows 8, Microsoft Office 10 was up and running in 3.5 seconds.
Launching FireFox in Windows 7 took a good 8-10 seconds. On Windows 8 it's less than 5.
I'm not happy with that "Metro" pastel-colored piece of crap UI that it boots up with either. So I hit the Windows Key and I have the Windows 8 desktop. I learned the CTRL-Key commands to do what the Start menu used to do.
And it just works. All my Windows 7/XP software work just fine, drivers loaded for all my devices fine, and I was even able to load the Windows 7 Chipset Drivers under Windows 8 RC for my Shuttle SFF PC, a SG31G2 pc.
The keyboard CTRL-Key commands and desktop UI to me seemed to have similarities with a Fedora/Unity type of interface so I think Linux users may find some similarities (specially the Ctrl-Key functions) that feel familiar.
Microsoft gets a D from me for mixing user interface paradigms, that was just a flat-out stupid decision. It does however get an A for overall performance of the OS compared to Windows 7. Frankly, this is how Windows 7 should've performed.
Now, I have a Mac and a Windows 8 PC and while I still like the Mac better, the performance of Windows 8 for basic productivity apps is much better than that of Windows 7, Vista or XP. The same PC that now runs Windows 8 ran Windows XP when I bought and built it, upgraded to Windows 7, and now has Windows 8 on it. Windows 8 makes this 7 year old PC scream.
Here’s the problem with ctrl-key combinations: you have to use the keyboard. Any time I have to take my hand off the mouse and transfer it to the keyboard (except when I have to actually type a text string) and then transfer it back to the mouse, I’ve been defeated. I’ve been WAY slowed down on the work I do. I want to just click, click, click and NEVER EVER touch the keyboard for anything other than typing.
I’m a true power user and if you talk to any other true power user, they’ll probably tell you the same thing.
I have to agree with your assessment of Win8. It runs better and uses fewer resources. My only real issue has been the shutdown problem I noted in my first post. BTW, the Metro interface can be turned off. I haven’t, but I saw posts through Google on how to do it.