Hi rcskypilot,
I can appreciate your frustration. I have yet to "appreciate" metro/modern apps.
However I do suggest that you take time to learn the Windows 8 interface. I am forcing myself to do so and am growing to like it.
I don't have a touch screen as yet, though I have set up a Acer Touch Screen Tablet PC (a very nice device).
Using my 24" monitor on my i7 PC I find that it is very easy to use the mouse to manage the "Charms", and to find the Start page (though I am also learning to use the "Windows key" as it is a very easy way to access the Start page.
I certainly do not have the issue that you report "7 out of 10 times, when I touch my mouse, no matter where the cursor is at that moment, the charms activate", for me the Charms only display when I purposely activate them. I wonder what program you are using when you have this issue.
I have found that if I move the mouse to the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and right click, a very useful menu appears.
I have been using Windows 8's mail program and have been able to add more than one email account, which is very useful. A few things I have yet to learn how to do is 1) to search my email for emails from a particular person on a particular topic (and only search my email), 2) change the display so show more subject line and less actual email, 3) sort an email folder by topic or by sender.
I think I need a instruction manual or a help file that fully explains how to use Windows 8, not a just quick guide to start using it.