The modern UI is annoying but for less than half price I'll take it instead of paying 200+ bucks for a windows 7 full retail. The start screen aside 8 is just a polished 7 with everything done a bit smoother and fancyer.
The user interface is just one of many reasons I will not touch Windows 8, no matter how cheap it is. I was not thrilled to have to buy Windows 7, but with the demise of Windows XP support, I had no choice. However, it could be the last Microsoft OS I invest in. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Windows 8 has the worst user interface design, for a desktop, I have ever seen. I could do better(and have actually) if they want a single user interface for desktop and mobile. Let's see if they can figure it out for the next version.
Honestly, I think part of my problem is I know the UI could be designed better and am completely frustrated with how anyone at Microsoft could have though the current UI, for Windows 8, is a good thing for a desktop.
Putting the desktop aside, I cannot abide by, nor accept, the intrusive nature of Windows 8 and Microsoft. If this does not change, then Windows 7 is absolutely the last of anything I will buy from Microsoft.