If your video card is supported, I'm running a dual boot on an Acer Aspire 7540 and I find it to be substantially speedier than Windows 7 on the same system (both x64).
As far as the start screen, I doubt microsoft is going to include a way around it by default, and I *know* they aren't getting rid of Metro any time soon, but there is one application you can download called Start8 that gives you a regular start menu, and you can simply add a shortcut into your startup folder so that you go straight to the Windows7-style desktop. No need to ever touch or see metro!
In an unrelated note, hallo everyone! It's been a couple years since i posted here, and it seems like a lot has changed. Good to be back...