They can't say they weren't warned, the long preview and public preview/beta tests had many reviewers saying this was a step too far trying to make it a one size fits all and essentially abandon the desktop users and anyone without a touch screen. But they ignored all of the pleas/comments/reviews and blundered on, now they are finding out that they reap what they sow.
They talk of 100 million win8 installations or some such, but in the time since it was released there have been 200 million system sales, so there is a very large number of people avoiding it in its current state. The win8 OS market share must make dismal reading at MS.
No point saying that there are utilities to get back the desktop interface, people shouldn't have to go to these lengths.
They are also shooting themselves in the foot with the locking of the UEFI to prevent wiping and installing another OS in place of win8. God MS are getting as bad as Apple in these Protectionist/Proprietary measures.