The desktop exists exactly as it does in W7, with the enhancements that you would expect from upgrading an OS. eg a long needed improvement on the task manager, storage spaces, a damn nice improvement to the file copy utility with a performance graph and the ability to pause transfers, as well as better time calculations, the system performance footprint has been reduced to use less RAM and services, marginally better multi monitor support, boot time is much better, native ISO mounting, quick access to advanced OS tools by right clicking the bottom left corner (stuff that was listed on the right of the W7 start menu and much more) and generally better optimizations over W7.
If you're getting held up on Metro: "you're holding it wrong." Use it as you did the start menu. Nothing in my workflow is hampered by it and I feel that it making use of my 2560x1440 screen is better than the hugely outdated start menu style lists.
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