Hey if a couple UI tweaks make it more comfortable for you and worth it, great. Its your cash.

Getting a barebones no-OS new machine IS cheaper though, use that money for XP if the OEM of your choice isnt offering it. SATA drivers are included in install on XP64
so all you basically have to do is pop in the CD, and then hit the websites of your hardware providers to get new drivers- which you should be doing with any new machine anyhow regardless of OS.

To me the UI look/feel is nothing important. Linux UI/Desktop and management is actualy far above and beyond any MS OS these days. But, Linux wont run AoC/Steam/Ect easily or well, so I dont use it as primary OS.