As long as you didn't use to keep any data on the stick as well as just a very few Apps, it maybe ok. But I would do that for to use for my work. And that may exactly the point: For WHAT those portable drives/OS's are being to be used!
As Windows To Go: YES! Not sure for Windows 8 Pro, I use the real Windows To Go created from Windows 8 Enterprise and that is using the same License as on the Office Computer which I used to create. And I use USB 3.0 HDD's because they're bigger and faster than any USB Stick! I need to carry quite a bit of Apps because I use those W2Go drives for servicing by cutomers.
That's right! Even an USB 2.0 HDD is much faster than an USB 2.0 Stick, it's still to slow for "Normal" working.