That I just need more time to "get" the Win8 modern user interface. I now realise that the idea of passive touch was needed (and still believe that part), but not with a side scroller interface. The side effect of losing the dept hierarchy of data is the saddest part of all and a pain to search through.

Passive touch needs a kiosk or fixed screen area (eg. iOS android especially on small screens. On large monitors the top and bottom is wasted) with only paging and zoom in and out. Active touch (electrostatic that you feel which I like to call touchy-feely) works in both dimensions just like the mouse.

Passive touch = fat finger problems which is why I understand the design decisions, like not having a horizontal scroll bar, as then people would ask for a vertical one.

Active touch = pixel perfect interactive UI where you can feel the UI and potentially the data.

Active touch allows you to feel the close button without having to press it. Feel the window edge to know when you can resize it, etc.