I still have no use for the full screen (Metro) start menu and apps since I use Windows 8.1 on a desktop and laptop. Classic start shell and running everything in desktop windowed mode is still all I need. I often wonder if I will someday actually want a Windows tablet instead of Android that would make this full screen stuff necessary. Until then, the full screen stuff is just annoying and ignored.
I find the Metro start screen makes it very easy to find applications and [common] files. Hit the `Windows` key and start typing.
I find it also useful for organizing the applications that I use occasionally in my workflow. Again, just hit the `Windows` key and there they are as big as grapefruits.
Having used Windows Phone 7 for two years [though I switched to Android because I got vastly better hardware for the same price], what I miss is how well Metro keeps crap from piling up in the way it does with WIMP user interfaces.
Android and the `Windows Classic` mode of Windows 8, just dump lots of little icons higgeldy-piggeldy onto the screen. The default Windows 8/Windows Phone behavior of adding new items to an alphabetized list follows the principle of least surprise - or rather most pleasant surprise since nothing else does it.
The problem with Metro is that it often conflicts with my habits. Android and Windows 8 Classic mode conform to my expectations - though often my expectations are for behaviors which could stand improvement.
The vanilla Android also adds new items into alphabetized grid. Samsung's Touchwiz does not, it will put new items at the end by default (you can change it though).
