Who wants to upgrade from Win7? I hate app store crap and Android. I have 2 Android tablets, plus a Samsung S4 Mini I got a few days ago. They grab hold of your identity and are relentless.
Also the tablets are so limited compared to Windows.
I have a Win8 laptop, and again all that app crap... I loaded a small program called "Start Is Back" that brings back a Win7 start and menu.
I don't know where you get this.
I have a Cintiq Companion tablet and it didn't require any more personal info then Win 7 did for activation.
Also, this tablet runs a full Win 8.1 Pro OS, I run the entire CS6 Suite and my digitizing software. Now, I personally wouldn't do the android tablets, as you say, the apps are limited, get one that runs the full Win OS and there are several tablets that fit that bill (Cintiq Companion being one).
If you have the tablet, you won't need "Start is Back". I personally don't understand what all the fuss is about with regard the start menu and I'm probably one of the worst people to handle change then most. And we do have one Win 8 desktop (no touchscreen monitors) and don't have the "Start is Back" (or equivalent) program on there.
Ironically, I think the original start menu has been in several beta releases for Win 8, but always pushed back at the last minute before what ever service pack was released.