I think its because most of them try win8 on a non touch screen device. I did, and I hate it. now that I have a convertible laptop running 8.1, I'm loving it, switching desktop from/to tablet UI is great. I just hope more apps are coming to windows store for modern UI.
and I bet most of ppl who hate it are used to use windows to work on desktop environment. with mouse it is difficult to search apps that u haven't put shortcut on desktop, and without mouse it is more difficult to work on desktop, since the UI is not optimized for touch navigation.
for everyone who has difficulties to search apps without the startmenu, should:
- make shortcut on desktop
- pin to start, and group it so that u know its desktop apps
- use win+S to search apps