I have to admit I was talking from a new 1st user's perspective rather than someone particularly tech-savvy. Your point is, of course, correct.

Keyboard shortcuts and little finder's tricks have always been faster in windows. Who here actually browses the 'all programs' list on the start menu in Windows 7? Not many, I'll bet. Who didn't use the RUN box or command line to launch programs quickly or set up shortcuts and toolbars to make your life easier within your first desktop session on any previous version of Windows? W8 should be no different - it's still highly customisable with plenty of tricks to get around it that are (usually) remarkably similar to older versions of Windows.

Windows has been much of a muchness for a number of years now and Metro seems to show a greater departure from the Windows norm. I feel a lot of people who are saying "Arrrrgh! Kill it with fire!!" would like it more if they could get over the interface difference easier.

Smarter, not harder. Certainly a credo for the IT world to live by.