I've been much more satisfied with windows 8.1 than I thought I would be. I'll admit that I don't use the tiles very often but I don't feel "lost" coming from windows 7.
The PC I'm on right now was upgraded from Windows 8 (which ran flawlessly) to Windows 8.1 yesterday.
After untold number of problems - some of which seem to be tied to a motherboard that was certified for Windows 8 -- but magically NOT for 8.1 according to MS - I've gone back to Windows 8.
I've NEVER experienced an issue with an "uncertified motherboard" during a dot-rev upgrade with ANY OS. This is a first for me, and MS has some 'splaining to do based on the forums I've been reading between yesterday and today.