However, if people refuse to use the new Start screen or Apps screen, then they are left with some of the more quirky work arounds (pinning on the taskbar desktop shortcuts). I'm not really promoting them as much as I am just pointing them out...

Myself, I use the Start screen and the Apps screen, which is the way the new OS was meant to be used. They are really nice Start menu replacments once you get used to them. Furthermore, they are still essentially two simple mouse clicks...

From the desktop, click the Start Screen icon in the lower left corner, scroll, then click your application icon.

From the Start screen, right click, click All Apps, scroll, then click your application icon.