8.1 is also the next XP. Its pretty much windows 10 before it became windows 10. I get the feeling many 10 things would run on it if you fake the version check. Hybrid shutdown, indexing? De-crapified 10 runs just fine using a bit more memory than the earlier versions. With 8.1 EOL around 2023, I think by that time we'll have vulkan and more mature linux. MS is busy now fracturing its own user and application base.
Good point, I have dual OS'es, Windows 7 Pro, and Windows 10 Pro, I have dual bootable my laptop. First I have 1TB drive, I place 400GB for Windows 7 Partitions, then 2nd Partition Windows 10 as 400GB then 200GB just 3rd partitions as DATA that can share Doc, Pictures, Music and Download.. that helps.. But I use EASYBCD tools to the job!