it really does not matter to me that i had to spend a couple of quid to have a start menu to be honest. there are free choices out there too. im on everybody's side here that the start menu should be included in windows but its an easy cheap fix. Besides i dont think i have actually used the start menu anyway. device manager and other control panel options is right click bottom left on windows 8. It might not have a start menu but once you start using 8 you find its not actually that important.
There are negatives like every other product on the market and to me there is so many good features that the bad just do not ruin the experience. I dont have an SSD yet too so the boost in speed is very nice.
You had to install third party products for pretty much everything on windows 7 so i don't understand the arguments some people have. Annoying but not a reason to hate it.