As a user of Windows that runs solely in a VM setting, I don't really have a problem with those changes. As far as my clients go, I only care about whether or not they are able to do their work with their machines. If they like it, I have no reason to tell them otherwise.

Most of the time the only reason for me to be sitting behind a Windows machine is to troubleshoot. As long as this new "desktop-metaphor" does not stand in the way of doing that, I see zero reason to approach Microsoft with the same wrath as I would to Ubuntu Unity or Gnome3.