[Quppa]

Install a Start Menu replacement like StartIsBack (http://www.startisback.com/) or Classic Shell (http://www.classicshell.net/) and voilà, you've got the productivity of the Windows Vista/7 desktop and the performance improvements of Windows 8/8.1. No hot corners to worry about.

Even if you don't use a third-party Start Menu replacement, this update will mean less pain - with power and search buttons on the Start Screen, there will be little reason to use the 'Charms bar', which eliminates two hot corners. With the Start button's return in Windows 8.1, the bottom left hot corner isn't an issue, either, and the top left hot corner is only necessary if you use Modern apps (and it sounds like you don't).

Changing the default file handlers for audio and video files back to desktop programs for non-touch users is a fantastic change and I hope heralds a small shift of focus away from Metro.