BTW Win8 users have about 2yrs until 8.1 is a forced update.
Nothing is "forced", unless it is enforced by law or someone threatens to punch you if you do not do it.
Anyway, Windows 8 still is a tablet-oriented OS and focused on single full screen apps (even Windows 1.0 could have multiple windows, though they couldn't overlap - that was a new feature of Windows 2.0, MS should just call the new OS "Microsoft Window"). You can run multiple programs in desktop mode of course, but the start menu is still full screen (and IIRC it can only contain metro apps - all desktop apps can only have shortcut on the desktop).
ClassicShell solves some of the problems. Copying explorer.exe from Windows 7 cal also be done. That leaves the borderless windows (when I have multiple windows open, I find it useful when I can quickly find the edge of the window), but even WindowBlinds cannot really make the UI look normal (as in Windows 2000 or XP style). Oh, and Server 2012 has the same UI - who the hell uses a touch screen on a server? Or has a good video card there if it's not needed for GPGPU?
I also really disliked the part where Windows 8.1 setup pretty much forces you to sign up for Microsoft account then use that to log in to your own PC. As if Active Directory is not enough. There is a way around that though.