I'm glad Touch is optional... Personally, on a desktop environment, @ my desk, I wouldn't care for it.
I can't agree the 'shut down' is all that 'hidden' or hard to find or hard to access. There are 2 or 3 ways that come to mind instantly.
WinKey + I
Popping out Charms & hitting Settings
& more.
All previous kidding aside, the Start-up to Desktop is all good. Start is right there @ WinKey or bottom-left for any one want. I do find, between the Desktop, W/ Pinning to Taskbar & Quick Launch, the Rt Clk or WinKey + X Menu & WinKey + Q, going to Start is not often necessary.
Also, @ the top-left, Snapping Apps is appealing… to have 1 or 2 as a side panel, @ the same time, but, yet, not interfering w/ Desktop, is just super.
You guys certainly raise valid points. There, definitely will be a learning curve w/ this 1. It will be interesting to see the response & how ppl & environments, vary in regard to the learning curve. Aside from offering the Beta to beta-testers, the rational is two-fold to offering it well in advance, pre-GA to everyone. 1 it affords an opportunity for that learning curve before purchase availability & 2 (2 least in the hopeful mind of MS), gives ppl an opportunity & time, after getting to know it, to like it & get hooked on it before purchase availability. Be interesting to see how it plays out, over the forthcoming months. Sure going to be a challenge & moment for IT Pros to rise to the occasion.
Cheers,
Drew