I may have 8 main applications pinned to the taskbar, everything else I do is through the start menu. Frankly, all I really need is the taskbar + start menu.
The experience does not change. Either you type windows buttong and start typing the name of the app (just like in wondows 7) Now if only you could pin a desktop app like word to the start screen, then I don't see the difference in experience.
I think my only objection to that is how the new start screen comes up in a jarring Desktop > Metro transition.
But then again I disliked the Windows7 Superbar until i'd been using it a while, so I'll reserve my judgement until I've used the Consumer Preview for a month or so.
