Why do you act like it's some conspiracy?
Microsoft has made no qualms about the fact that the normal desktop's days are numbered. It may take some time, but it will eventually be gone. Win32 apps will always be there, way too much legacy, but they may move that to a virtual environment at some point, making Metro the only real OS.
Yes, it's true that today (and tomorrow and probably for several years), Metro is not as functional as Win32, but each release will bring it closer until it surpasses Win32 (which won't be getting much new development). The writing is on the wall. There's no conspiracy. It's not a secret.
Since this is the case, why exactly would Microsoft do anything that wasn't driving them towards that goal? Why would bring back the old start menu? Doing so completely defeats their platform strategy, and gives mixed messages. Microsoft's message is clear. Adapt, or stay on Windows 7 until your apps no longer work.
Windows is not a democracy. Microsoft doesn't have to listen to anyone if they don't want to. It's their product. They own it. They decide the direction it goes in. Certainly, listening to customers as it applies to their chosen strategy is a good thing. But listening to customers who simply don't want to make any changes has no value.
The start menu is NOT coming back in any official form. Ever. Metro is not going away. Ever (or at least not for at least a decade, maybe more.. to be replaced with something else).. Win32 will be stagnating. Application developers will be focusing on Metro, for a large number of reasons.. but mostly because it's in their own self interest to do so. It opens up a new market for them. They make small concessions like the start button, in ways that don't really affect their overall strategy.. but that's about it.
Complain all you like, whine that you're not being listened to. Hate everything... it's not going to change Microsoft's path, since they have bet their company on their strategy and will not change it. If you don't like it, there's the door.
Nobody is saying you don't have a right to complain, what is being said is that you don't have a right to get your way. And expecting to get you way will only lead to further angst on your part.
Windows 8+ is not an incremental upgrade to the old Windows. It's a transition to a new operating system, not unlike how Apple transitioned from OS 9 to OS X. This isn't like going from Win16 to Win32, or Win32 to Win64. This is an entirely new OS that runs along side the old OS, and the new OS will slowly take over more and more duties until the old OS is relegated to a virtual machine.
My point is... get used to it, or move on. You're just going to keep being angry if you expect anything else.
