You're right.....you just don't understand!
You're missing the point. No one is complaining about less time to boot. The complaints focus on "change for the sake of change", hence the metaphor "new dog on the block searching for a fire hydrant to pee on (the odour left behind announcing his arrival to others)
Using some of your examples:
- in Win 7 to power off...click Start; click Shutdown = 2 clicks. What could be simpler?
- in XP, all your well-used programs were icon shortcuts on your desktop. I like a clean desktop so mine aren't. What problem does Microsoft or you, for that matter, have with "choice" vs change for the sake of change.
- if you like to create "little tiles" all over your desktop, go for it! I'm not interested in creating "little tiles" and resent being forced into doing so. I am quite capable of clicking Start --> Programs --> (select the program) = 3 Clicks.
Furthermore, how many tiles do you want to create for one program. For example, System Mechanic Pro has two main programs - SMP and Drive Scrubber. Do I create 2 tiles for the desktop? How about Norton's Internet Security? There is "Update", "Quick Scan", "Full Scan", etc. There's another 5 or 6 tiles.
Do you now get the point because I have numerous other examples if you don't! If you want to be a sheep for MS, I'm happy for you. But give me a choice and let everyone be happy with real improvements, not cosmetic ones and certainly not one that is geared towards a small minority called "tablet users".
