It's part of "Windows Store applications". Flat design is in at Microsoft. I've met with the Ux team and they did give a bit by adding some color (look at the VS2012 beta, where there was NO color). After seeing Office 2013, I think some of the changes were corporate mandates, for example, all uppercase menus. Change does not always make something better. IMO, some of the VS2012 and Office2013 changes are not good, but if you don't try things, how do you know if something is better or not?

BTW, I'm not trying to defend Microsoft in any way. I'm trying to explain Microsoft's thinking.

>And somehow Microsoft decided that the ICONS for the buttons needed to be changed, right? Like the icons for comment and uncomment, or save or save all, right? The ICONS needed to be changed.
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>Go ahead and make an attempt to defend it.