what are you talking about?.... desktop is going to have icons for non-winrt apps. but have you used win 3 (since you mention it)? or are you mentioning it becuase its old and the one before win95?. because its NOT the same, and it doesn't work like that, and of course since i used it after ms-dos, i know how win3 isn't like new metro style UI. anyway Win8 its far from RTM... so it will have tweaks, fixes, and improvements. you cant judge it from WDP. and you should know, there will be desktop, it will work the same as win7. taskbar is going to work the same with pinned programs and jump lists. the only thing that wont be there its Start Menu, becuase its whats is being replaced by a new start screen with a new UI, but it also is going to run new WinRT apps. also Desktop is going to work like an app instead of like a centric part of windows, this means you wont have to run desktop to be able to use your device. if you meant Start Menu. then it will be probably dead by Beta. but Desktop with its taskbar and backwards compatibility will be there. and i think you should wait to RTM to see if you like it, if not, you can stay on win7.. or whatever OS you like
I don't believe it's photoshopping, but I just returned from China and dog tired, so Merry X'mas and sign off.