I got very used to finding my less frequently used programs through the search box rather than navigating Start > Programs > Accessories > etc. & my most frequently used programs were pinned to the taskbar since Vista. (same for Win 8)
So the time for me to adjust to the new OS was minimal.
I find the ribbons in Office 2007 & 2010 more intuitive than the old drop down menus. The icon approach is definitely more self-explanatory. I also use the quick access toolbar for faster access to common functions. It is similar to pinning stuff to the taskbar.
I think Microsoft has been slowly introducing us to Windows 8 if you took advantage of the new features in previous OS'es.
& I have been a silver haired surfer since I turned 35 - fifteen years ago.
