Are you using StartIsBack? I was and it was great until it started messing with my Windows Updates (update computer with Windows Update, after restart and logging in, your computer is a black screen with a cursor. Something about it screwing with Windows Explorer.)

I'd have to disagree with you there. Windows 8 changed a lot more than just the MetroUI and Start menu. Personally, I know it's about half and half, but I miss the Aero design much more than what they have now. I never liked that Windows Basic thing from Windows Vista and Windows 7 and that's what this new design reminds me a lot of. It's supposedly great for performance but I don't care nor do I see a huge difference in the many machines I have used.

I own a tablet, laptop (with a touch screen), and a desktop and Windows 8 grew on me for the touch screen computers but I could never get used to it on the desktop without a touch screen because navigating the MetroUI with a mouse and/or keyboard is frustrating. They should have designed two menu designs one being for touch and the other for non-touch especially considering how many gamers there are and people in general who don't care all that much for touch. It's nice and all that they're bringing the Start Menu back in Windows 10, but I think it would have been better without that Metro looking stuff. It always looks so cluttered.

Windows Mobile 8 never got my attention for this reason and Windows 10 seems to be going in the exact same direction with the aesthetics.

But there's a lot that Windows 8 changed that didn't carry over from 7. I also miss the desktop gadgets. While very gimmicky, they were fairly useful like the analog clock and outside weather. I did bring those over in a third-party app, as well.