Not every group inside Microsoft listens to MVPs. Remember, Microsoft is not a shark, devouring everything in it's path. It's a school of pihranas, each division out for itself.

The Windows division (windiv) is one that keeps it's cards close and doesn't let much information out. Developer Division (devdiv). is quite open with MVPs, and the public in general. Each division shares information with MVPs from other divisions as they see fit. For example, I know very little about the direction Windows is headed. In fact, everything I know is what the press has reported and my extrapolation of that.

I know some of what DevDiv is doing. At the recent Summit, there was lots of back and forth about future features in Visual Studio and C#. Our opinions of things was asked and we gave. In some cases, I agreed with what was proposed, in others I disagreed. And I told them.

Here's one area that I have been vocal against things Microsoft has done. They recently released a CTP of Git interaction inside Visual Studio. I installed it and tested it and found it was very wrong. It used the same approach as TFS, even using the same terminology. I've told Microsoft they are wrong to take this approach. We'll have to wait for the next release to find out if my comments had any affect.

You say my criticism of MS is mild. That's only because you've only seen it here, where generally, I take the approach of educating how to use the changes. I have told Microsoft directly areas where they are wrong. This is mainly due to my belief that it will be more effective to get it changed if I discuss it with the team that can make the change than to complain publically in places they don't monitor and will not hear about it.

Let's go back to something you don't like.. .removing the start button. I won't argue that it has caused problems for users. I also see evidence... the same evidence that's out in the public (again, I have NO more information about the direction of Windows than the general public) that the direction Microsoft is heading will not bring back the start button and eventually, the desktop will go way too. So, rather than fight it, I take the approach to learn how to use this new UI now rather than waiting until we're forced into it and the current alternatives will no longer work. I'd take this same approach even if I wasn't an MVP. I can tell you that in the case of the start button, once I learned how to navigate the start screen, I found it easier to use, even on my non-touch laptop. Here's how I use it. First, applications that I frequently used are pinned to the quick launch bar on the desktop. Second, if I need something that isn't there, I hit
the Windows key then start typing the name of what I want. When it comes up in search, I select it (often it's the first item and I just hit Enter). If I'm on the start screen and want to get back to the desktop, I hit windows+D. It's become second nature and I've found typing in the name of the program to find it is easier and faster than navigating a hierarchical list of items. But again, how you work may differ from how I work.

Many people have complained about the missing start button. Microsoft is aware of those complaints. But because this is windiv, there is no way to know if they are listening. We'll have to wait to see what Windows Blue offers. My prediction.. the start button will not be back.