1492: I really agree with you. Of course not all software will run on a new OS. And also not all hardware will run on a new OS. For instance see the new IOS which will not run on the older Ipad etc. MS has given each vender early copies of the OS so they can make the changes needed for their product. Some do this for free and some make you pay. That is not the OS fault. Win 8 was available to vendors for at least a year before the release.
I know that each time Apple comes out with a upgrade or new release there are a lot of compatability issues and they have tight controls over the hardware. I just got a new IPad and my friends said how can you have issues with it. So I went to their forum and the first few issues were the same as mine.
Every Linux release has issues especially for the non Geek user.
I run over 175 programs and all but 2 worked on Win8. I found an alternative for both.