Windows 8’s desktop mode is not that much different from Windows 7, just enhanced. If you don’t like the modern UI, stay within the desktop mode. There are a number of software bring you back the start button if you really miss it. Plus, Windows 8.1 will have the start button back naively.
How is it broken horribly??
I don’t get why people keep bitching about the Modern UI. It looks so good on the large displays, namely TV. It’s so simple to use that even my mom who barely touches computers can now manage to watch online streaming and use the being maps.