While I applaud Microsoft for trying trim down the chrome, gradients, etc. to leave only the content, in the end it feels too industrial with the sharp hard corner edges and monochromatic dumb-terminal look where all the apps look basically the same. People want something warm and fuzzy which skeumorphic, rounded corners, gradients, and shinyness offers despite detracting a bit from the content which makes it more accessible to ordinary people.

From an efficiency standpoint of getting the data and interacting with it the Metro design is definitely superior in that sense, but fails to capture the connection of the phone being something that just isn't a tool.

I think Microsoft should offer more choices than just Metro despite having things look different app to app, and let the user better customize the home screen with whatever personalization embellishments they want (backgrounds, gradients on tiles, folders, etc.) instead of forcing a design on everyone as everyone is different.

If they did that maybe, people initially would start out with the "skeumorphic" look similar to the iPhone/Android/etc. as that's what they're used to with other phones and in the real world, and slowly allow them to change settings to transfer if they want back to a content focused Metro mode.

I think having this option would allow them to sell the devices better despite it breaking some minimilistic cohesive designer sensibility in favor of what the consumer wants and what will sell which is the ultimate goal anyhow.