[r00fus]

There are more elegant ways to add touch-usable capabilities than gobbling up real-estate (iOS implements the "context menu" as a long-click meta-mode). You could also use persistent buttons like PalmOS/Android.

Discoverability is a prime way to keep things elegant (ie, don't push it in a user's face - let them find it easily).

Of course, if Microsoft wants to address BOTH touch and desktop, then I wish them well... that's a herculean task and I don't think any solution work well for either.