I don't understand the purpose of Metro at all.
Why didn't they just make it a desktop integration/modification that displays fancy icons and widgets? What's the point of running it on TOP of an existing desktop and applications?
Metro is not just a "feature" like the Gadgets in Windows 7. This is the thing most people don't understand.
Metro is an entirely new operating system. It runs side-by-side with the old Windows. It's not just some simple API they added on to things. This is the first step in migrating the application base to the new platform that will work across different CPU's and architectures (Phone, Tablet, and PC).
This being the "first step", it's not as mature as Win32 is (the traditional OS) and it will take some time to mature. Microsoft chose to do this "dual OS" route rather than do the route that Apple did, when they converted everyone from PowerPC to x86 (that used emulation). Using the apple approach would mean that existing performance applications, like games, would probably run 10x slower, and use a LOT more resources.
It's clear that its solely aimed at mobile devices and serves little purpose in a desktop environment.
If it was possible to completely disable and remove it, I would.
No, it's not aimed solely at mobile devices. It's aimed at *ALL* devices. It's a UI that works for everything.
The problem most people have is that it's not the same as they are used to, so they conclude that it's not aimed at desktops because, in their mind, the old UI is the only way a desktop can work. That's simply not the case. I have asked this question of a lot of people, and nobody can ever give me a straight answer about how the UI is so unusable on a desktop. They always talk about how it's not usable with a keyboard and mouse, which is totally false. it's very usable with a keyboard and mouse.
The only argument, in my mind, that is valid is the full screen one. And while I agree that it's not ideal, it's not a deal breaker. Most of my apps are WIn32 apps, and that will continue to be the case for a long time to come. But I still like Metro and can see the potential there.
Think of it like this. Other than the start screen (which, by the way, most people think is Metro.. it's not, it just LOOKS like metro, it's actually a Win32 app), I think of Metro apps the same way I would think of a video game emulation console, or a virtual machine.
I really don't understand the "I want to get rid of it" mentality. If you don't use any metro apps, you never have to use Metro. But it's there if you want it. It's completely out of the way and won't interfere with you or anything if you don't want to use it.
If you don't like the new start menu, that's fine. But the start menu is *NOT* metro. It's a Win32 app that has been styled to look like Metro.
I read Mystyres's post and immediately thought of you. My sincere apology comparing you to anyone. You are unique in every way. Please forgive me.