i think the only reason why Windows fanbois exist are vastly due to their 3rd party app and game support. They love them plus Windows being dummified like a 12 year old AOL version even though Linux is the real enthusiast, power freak OS.
As an OS itself, minus its very, very basic and limited default applications, its pretty chaotic even to the point of its folders and tabs/sub menus after sub menus.
Its also quite restricted without the use of 3rd party hacks and applications. On Linux, you can make your taskbar look and function far more than even 3rd party apps like Windowblinds allow.
unfortunately, due to MS's brute force and resources, all this will continue for quite some time. Though its fine that most of their legacy OS improvements are "under the hood", i hate how they market such mundane features and anything "huge" like "Aero shake" or "peak preview"....seriously?
Why not something like....i dunno....Tabbed Explorer with an icon shortcuts bar with a search function as fast and thorough as the freeware app called "everything" is? or take notes from Compiz Fusion in its speed, function on top of eye candy, offer a "Live CD" for repairs or trying it out, a repository for MS apps instead of forcing out of box installs, tools to create entirely new desktop environments to replace Explorer rather than just add on top of it like winstep does. Apple isnt much different in all this either.
i think they should hire enthusiasts instead of people with business degrees to direct how a good OS should work. Not that my ideas are best of course, but their not envisioned from staring at a blank check.