Hi
You don't have to get used to the start stuff unless you want to, I didn't.
I installed Classic Shell, Rocket Dock and Modern Mix and use my computer just the way I did in Windows 7.
My computer boots to the desktop, I don't use any of the apps, I use the normal stuff like Chrome, Thunderbird, etc.
I occasionally use the Metro interface mainly from the search apps function to quickly find some application I don't know exactly how to get to in W8 but for the most part I have everything I use on the desktop.
My icons are all organised right to left, Games, Windows Maintenance Tools, Graphic Arts, and Video Editing Software and last 3D Related Apps. These are all on my Rocket Dock.
The things that go on the Task bar are for the most part the applications that I want to be visible and available when I have a program running, I.e. I can access Chrome, Word, Skype, Fraps etc, while I'm working in a program.
The other reason for working like this as opposed to in Metro is that I can use app switching from the task bar and have multiple windows open.
I often switch back and forth between several open applications when I'm working like Photoshop Indesign and Word. It's much easier this way.
Everything is one click away.
http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/
http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/download.asp
http://rocketdock.com/
I also recomend...
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack
The best search utility that I've found, much better then the native Windows search engine.
Mike