...and when Windows 8.1 is critically acclaimed as a half-baked response to failing 8 sales it'll be replaced by Windows 8.2 - a badge-engineered re-release of Windows 7 ....

The only thing that would impress me is if they allowed the user to select between a Windows 7 style interface or the useless Modern UI. Other than that I would not be impressed at all.

You aren't forced to use the Modern UI.  You can simply login straight to the desktop and never see it.

I know ID, but what I mean is a Windows 7 GUI with absolutely none of the features of the Modern UI leftover, like moving the cursor to the right side of the screen and having that information bar or whatever it is pop up and a few other things.

I just don't want to see anything of Windows 8's Modern UI anywhere at all, especially in explorer windows. Maybe once some of the areas are skinnable, like the ribbon and status bar areas, I might like that area better.

Currently I'm doing a lot of development work in C++, both at home on Windows 8 and at work on Windows 7 and seeing the contrast on a daily basis it is so clear how much better the interface on Windows 7 is. From the general UI down to details such as the colour schemes. I so miss the Aero glass and windows-flip when I'm at home and the changes to VS2012 are just ghastly. Even Eclipse is looking superior - it even has git integrated by default goddamit.