If you guys are seriously struggling with Windows 8, then I'd recommend installing Classic Shell. Seriously, this should help by adding in stuff that Windows 8 really should have came with (like the start menu).
But anyway, I guess Windows XP's end was going to happen anyway, so there's no need to cling to the past. As for me, I haven't had to use that OS for years and so I'm not really bothered by the drop of support.