I just keep WinXPx32 in partition 1, but I use Win7x64. Dual boot. XP does not use UNICODE. BUT Win7 lack the graphic driver for my computer.
Xp will never die, its immortal yes I said IMMORTAL. (software is non-living thing ) But its use will decline in the coming years as support will reduce(both hardware and 3rd party software). Even after 10 or more years someone will install Xp on PC/VM just for fun or to use old games and software.
I still use xp on a vm systems and on some older machines, it is still a workhorse you don't always need to be connected to the net to do work. Just look over onto MSFN some people are still running Windows 98 SE edition with home made service packs
I have a Windows 7 and a Windows 8.1 pc as well as my good old XP machine and... I'm so scr3wed if I can't always have Windows XP! Both my printer and my scanner work like cr@p on the newer OS's! lol (HP Deskjet 5150 and Canon LIDE 20) Also of note: I installed "XP Mode" on my Windows 7 computer but it often fails to "grab" USB devices. XP worked like cr@p on my Windows 7 pc... grrr!