Namely, it can occupy a lot less space and virtually everything in it could be removed with little effort. It really only serves one purpose: start a process be it opening an application or beginning the shutdown process. It doesn't need to be that big, have a user-selected picture, show a user name, nor have all these links most poeple never use.
Not to mention the addition of a unified "Documents" directory. It pisses me off because it hides things I often browse so I end up having to go through My Computer when "My Documents" worked 99% of the time in XP.
Oh, and virtually everyone I know turns Aero off in 7 because the title of the window is more useful than a picture and that's the only way to make it return to text.
The only thing they did right with Windows 6.# is making ctrl+alt+del bring up a fullscreen window so that it overrides anything that is currently running (allows escaping out of locked up games).
Oddly enough, the grips you do have, actually can be customized to eliminate the problem. The start menu can be customized(all be it via a 3rd party app that is free) to eliminate what you feel isn't necessary. However, what does it matter if it has a little extra eye candy fluff that makes it take up a little more space? Unless you're running 1024x768, I don't see the problem.
Unified documents can be disabled by disabling libraries if you want, though the one on the start menu does lead to the single documents folder, not the unified one, assuming you are openning the one that comes up when you hover over your username. Again, this can be customized.
As for turning off Aero to get titles back on windows, that is only explorer Windows, all other windows display a title with Aero(unless the software itself doesn't have this feature). Explorer windows don't really need a title since the title is in the address bar. Of course you can again use a 3rd party application(classis shell again) to customize this if you wish.
But again, your complains aren't about customization. They are things that changed, and you might not like, but nothing about how WinXP was more customizable than Win7. If anything Win7 is more customizable. It allows for the entire shell to easily be replaced, WinXP was a hassle. Win7 allows for a custom background on the logon screen natively, WinXP a pain in the ass. Trust me, I have my problems with Win7/Vista compared to WinXP(removal of up arrow and easy access to network connections), and I think there was a lot of things they changed that I don't like as much as XP, but being less customizable isn't one of them.
