Monkey
I get your points of frustration, and like you say, you are not alone on this.
I am no MS fan-boy, but I give them enough credit for all their software that I have used with pretty good benefit (often cussing as I go). I am still w/ XP and it has Office ’97 and Streets and Trips ’05. Since all I do anymore is internet stuff (Mozilla) and get quick google map directions, all I really need is a tablet running a browser.
Anyway, what I meant to point out here is that I just read a 7” $300 Windows 8 (not RT) with Office 2013 burned in to ROM is coming VERY soon (Asus, matbe?). This is how MS plans to start moving ahead with those big fat touchable tiles, I think.
Desktop in a 7” screen setup will need a stylus.