Classic Start/Shell isn't buggy at all. I've never had it crash on me (anecdotal) but it has been rock solid enough to recommend it to everyone.
The point I was trying to make is nearly everyone who uses a PC uses 3rd party software to perform functions on a daily basis from the browser, to zip files, to music, to video, to games, and so on and so forth. I'd say a lot of those I just listed (except for maybe games) would be considered a pretty standard requirement in a modern OS. Everyone installs/ed Chrome/Firefox without batting an eye because IE was horseshit (slightly better now). Windows Media Player sucks balls so people use Foobar/VLC/KM Player/etc. 7zip (and Winrar to an extent) is vastly superior to the built-in zip program for XP/7/8. Why is it so appalling that you need to take a moment to install a 3rd party program to fix the start menu? I guess you could argue this is a graphical interface change but you could say the same thing about browsers more or less. And you're right, it isn't the same thing as a driver but I was mostly mentioning that because of the time involved doing drivers vs. time involved installing Classic Start/Shell.
I'd love to hear an argument from someone who hates 8/8.1 and ask them this question: Pretend you have an OS with an improved Windows 7 start menu (and completely removed Metro unless you absolutely want to access it) but everything else is Windows 8/8.1 - tell me why you think 8/8.1 is shit now? Would you use 7 or 8/8.1 and why?
All the programs you list are usable, basic built-in windows programs. They do not hinder productivity. Sure, they might be lacking - but not really. Now if you had to stand on one leg and cluck like a chicken as a requirement for using IE, media player, windows zip, etc, we'd be reaching metro levels of obstruction. That's not even getting into the obvious market ploy, of adding basic functionality as to enable developers to add value to the windows platform - this is obvious to anyone who's worked professionally with IT, Microsoft products and major software suites. Does it take five mins to set up an enterprise storage software? No? It's not basic functionality either.
Metro is a hindrance, not an improvement of the start menu. It's redesigned with a completely different agenda at hand - it's for integrating touch. I can do any metro touch part better with a mouse and keyboard on my laptop/desktop. If it must be there, it should disabled per default - and enabled, by choice, if you want touch functionality. Design engineers know what I'm talking about - innovation vs improvements.
Who cares how much time it takes to remove? It shouldn't be there in the first place - and Microsoft knows this. I don't dress, and then take a shower, and then argue getting the clothes wet doesn't matter, as it's easy to change. The default position is, and should be, disabled unless needed.
No one who understands that metro is not windows is saying windows 8/8.1 sucks compared to windows 7, quite the opposite - it's a vast improvement, as you'd expect. Metro on the other hand, is steps back - keep that shit on pads.
Metro - Abomination - be gone from my pc.