Why?
Start-Programs-"Find name of application"-Pick icon-Click
Windows 7 search was one of the things that made the OS so fantastic. Delving into the start menu was only needed when you wanted to find something abstarct, not commonly used.
I agree its a nice feature but it does require using the keyboard. W7 Start menu has a lot of power using only rhe mouse/trackpad.
It just occurred to me something quixotic about W8 as I understand it. The Metro interface is touch-centric, moving away from the mouse AND keyboard. And the W8 desktop relies a lot more on the keyboard than W7, particularly the Windows key.
So W8 is simultaneously moving away and towards the keyboard.