Although I hope to never need to depend on Win8.

I would hope that buried in Win8 somewhere there is some feature making that option possible.

And most people don't have the savvy to loook at the other options.

...autocratic history. If options are there at all they are almost certainly buried.

Linux needs to start capitalizing on Microsoft's screw-ups.

Windows 8 may be fine for the various touch pads, but for laptops and desktops, an upgraded XP is needed. And please stop with the nomenclature shuffle and locations changes of commonly needed functions, like they did to Windows 7, to make it look as if the 'new' O/S is somehow actually newer, better, different, or whatever, than it actually is.
Program for functionality and keep the productivity and learning curve of the end user in mind.
Maybe have the kernel and the desktop two totally separate systems. That way any "upgrades" to he O/S could be transparent to the end user, instead of the current, all but totally disruptive changeovers. Do more to eliminate the features that are in reality bugs that have slipped through the cracks and are discovered months and even years later.

and it might cut into profit margins. MicroStiff will never go for it.