Well, we’ve used XP for quite a number of years and so I completely disagree with you. Basically, you have to redecorate your Windows 8.1 house in order to use it without going mad. Not so with the XP.
I just went straight from XP to this 8.1, and after I got into tweaking it to my liking, I became a big fan.
I am so glad that I did not listen to the nonsense about installing Classic Shell, and take a big step backward.
Once you start personalizing your computer you will find that it is easy to shape to your liking.
Like I said, if you want to change something, google for the method.
By the way, I just re-installed “XP service pack 1” on my old 2003 computer to start preparing it for maximum utility and security (as an online backup for repairs) after the April cut-off, I then loaded Service pack 3, years of updates and adjustments and tweaks, security programs and so on.
I think a lot of you have forgotten how dismal XP used to be, compared to the version of it that you were using recently.