Well I came from XP to Windows 8 and now that I know the keyboard shortcuts I love it.
Windows 8 is a significant improvement over XP both in the video and in the audio.
Also nice are the improvements to the task manager and file explorer.
So far there are no great apps to get, but I don't care about that.

Yes I miss the start button but I am discovering the windows key...

Yes, but that is only because the native interface is a turd on a stick. The windows key combinations were always there (at least since XP) but you did not need to memorize them because you could easily get to the same place without resorting to a text based interface. Yes Windows + whatever key is a text based interaction (that is the way hard core Linux users work all the time), that you have found useful because MS new improved touch based interaction is essentially too clunky.

I have installed Stardockk "Start8" which brings back the start button and program list functions like Win 7.  There is also a freeware version that I found after I bought Start8, but for $4.95 it was worth it.  My Win 8 install starts at the desktop, just like Win 7 and I don't have to even mess with the "messy" apps window.