as much as i like Windows 8 and WP8 (i dont have WP8 device for now but i have a windows 8 tablet), the main problem with the OS is Microsoft's inability to adapt faster. I remember how shi**y Windows Mobile 6.5 was in first Xperia, very slow and had too much problems. Their first decent mobile OS was Windows Phone 7.5 mango and when it released people already flocked to android and iOS. Even blackberry already in decline back then. Regular people want to play casual games, want their phone to have instagram, etc. Microsoft is truly lacking in these vital features hence why not many casual people buy WP8.
Windows 8 is also facing the same problem. Google and Apple (and you can say Amazon if you count their OS is different from Android) already jumped into tablet market since 2009/2010 and Microsoft's first dedicated touch OS just came out recently. When Google and Apple are now battling in 7-8" screen size, Microsoft hasn't even supported that screen size yet. They are always one step behind. That's why it cant compete. What worse is, they force the same appearance to the desktop version hence why many people don't like it.
There's a reason why Apple never mix Mac OS X and iOS altogether. Instead Apple cleverly borrow iOS features bit by bit to be implemented in Mac OS X but Mac OS X still feels desktop and still pretty much different from iPad. This is actually how Microsoft should do it.
They should allow desktop users to start into desktop mode because like it or not we have to admit productivity is still there, right in desktop mode. People who use desktop are those who want to work not to play. That's why metro feels unimportant in desktop. At least that's how I see it. I have Windows 8 on my desktop too but honestly i almost never touched anything metro except skydrive, mail, skype, and IM+. Recently i even installed skype desktop version because it's easier to just switch between apps there instead having to go to start screen and click "Skype" or move your mouse to the top left and swipe it down and choose skype. The experience is totally different with a tablet because in tablet you can just swipe your finger to switch between apps.
we all know why people are bashing Windows 8. They use it on desktop or laptop. Most of them never really had a Windows 8 tablet hence why their experience was different from us whom use Windows 8 in its best environment (touch screen).
So again, i do like Windows 8. Win8 boot faster than Windows 7. It is even faster than Mac OS X. It's stable, fun, smooth, and refreshing. But in order to please the mass audience (not just me and you), they should try to compete faster and not always one step behind the others. They should try to innovate and (especially for Win8) the price needs to be competitive. Good thing that Intel would reduce its chip prices for next generation haswell and atom bay trail, it would be great to have next Windows Blue tablet for $300-400. They should know the market now is very competitive. Even Amazon wouldnt be able to compete if they never sold their Kindles in very cheap price in the first place.
about WP8, I think they should also allow all the same features of Nokia apps (no restriction at all) to be in Samsung/HTC WP8 devices. Honestly the biggest advantage of Lumia is their offline navigation maps which is very useful for travelers. Why on earth anyone would want to buy HTC/Samsung over Lumia?