I prefer the way it was before. Hairstyle should be an option and not something that you are forced to go through (has Microsoft become your teacher?). Just imagine you want to show a slide show to somebody. Once you are finished and may want to select a new slide show you bump into Hairstyle mode.
Also watching a slide show in Hairstyle mode does not make sense right now. You have an empty screen with the canoe and the slide show running in a small pip window in the lower left corner. I think that also in Hairstyle mode the slide show should be displayed on the main portion of the screen.
Yesterday I tested for the first time surfing and emailing from the couch watching TV. It is really relaxing, especially if you don't have to type anything. (I think I have to buy a cableless keyboard to answer emails right away from the couch!)
Unfortunately you cannot control hairstyle mode with the mouse only. I think Hairstyle should support more controls through the mouse (I have a MS Trackball Explorer).
Ordered an IRman from Holland (difficult to get them here in Europe) to test Remote Control.
Wireless control through Pocket PC seems to be a very elegant solution, but a far too expensive fun!
Media Centers, Home Theater and all this other stuff (Tivo, HDTV, HTPC) are hardly known here in Europe (maybe with the exception of UK) - at least not in the way that you have media pc's controlling the whole arena.
There is a huge market here (100 Millions german speaking market (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and about 60 Millions French). You would probably be an early bird here in Europe with your product, if translated into European main languages).
The imaging still needs some work. What is the use of an artist field there? I feel the same with Nila and others that different media types (audio, images, video, tv) need their individual, customizable presentation layers with different display and view patterns.
Just a few late night random thoughts!