W8 and W8.1 are atrocious out of the box but you can customize them to make it even better than W7. Swapping the start menu for something good and customizable like Stardock Start8 will completely change the experience and remove 95% of the problem people have with that OS.
I kinda mentioned it in another comment but I don't think I could make 8/8.1 work no matter how good it is unless the awful theme engine could be replaced wholesale with that of 7. It's just so hideous.
