This is a very outdated "zombie" argument, and all I'm seeing here is "PERSONAL PREFERENCE - PERSONAL PREFERENCE - PERSONAL PREFERENCE."
This is like the old continuous argument that people had about Windows Vista vs XP, and even Windows vs Linux.
I first got on Windows 8 and HATED it, as I felt it were too similar to playing on a Nintendo Wii... Though now I choose Windows 8.1 Pro because not only have I found that the Windows 8 GUI is customizable, but Windows 8 has been proven to utilize RAM more efficiently than Windows 7 does - which is very important for my line of work, Windows 8 has a lot faster boot time, and Windows 7 only has partial support for Direct3D 11.1 while Windows 8 has full support, and I am just that anal about performance. Additionally, as I have embraced the superior performance of Windows 8 - I have also grown to PERSONALLY PREFER (pun) the features of 8 that 7 doesn't have.
And it's completely safe to presume that Windows 8 is easily more "future proof" while Windows 7 is becoming far more obsolete, even if we do see a more similar GUI to Windows 7 with Windows 9... But there are far too many more things to consider other than just a GUI, as GUI comparisons for the most part are solely based on PERSONAL PREFERENCE and are becoming even more modular and modifiable with the more modern OS versions. Which brings me to state that I also enjoy the fact that you can now change the Windows 8 GUI to being like 7 (or similar).
The only major factor in this entire argument is that people have a hard time embracing change, and the world of technology is constantly evolving and changing everyday. You either get with it, or you get left behind. Windows 8 is superior in performance, but for anyone to say that one OS is overall any better than another is merely speaking from their own personal opinion.
I am a performance (power and speed) enthusiast, while someone else may be an aesthetic enthusiast. You're always going to select what you PERSONALLY PREFER, and no one can tell you what that is... as that's always going to differ from everyone else.
Hell, I know people who are still using Windows XP.
Ruh roh!