Well see android and iOS solve the "cram more information into one place" problem by having that drop down menu. You get alerted to missed calls, app updates, messages, emails, reminders, alarms, etc. Not to mention shortcut to Settings, and all the quick launch options for wifi, apps, GPS.
The beauty is that it is all there, in one place. If you fancy a bit more information, tap on that and it'll launch whatever application is used to display such information.
Is that not better than looking at a big screen FULL of tiles of various sizes with text written at the bottom of it?
With smartphones you have to have balance. Again this is why I hate windows RT so much. I can pretty much picture the design manager telling his/her teams that this OS must be as far from the main competitors as possible, in every possible way. That lefts the teams with very little to work with. Imagine if say VW said that to their engineers about building the next Golf?
I mean just imagine it, you pull up the tile interface screen. You have a BUNCH of stuff, you can even scroll for more. And under some of them there are small texts for you to read....I mean really how practical is that anyways? You're literally ON the page where the app shortcuts are, do you really want more clutter?
I hardly and in fact I don't consider larger or smaller tiles to be a "custom" option. I mean, iOS and android lets you move icons across screens and around...because it is the way it should be. You don't buy a car and brag that it can go in a straight line...
Again, with these feature packed phones you want the most efficient way to deliver information. Hell android and iOS could have done that, gone with icons that can change in size, giving users additional information right below the name or something but ask yourself this....how is that in any way making your life easier? You've already found the location of the app you want, and chances are to do anything such as reply to a message...you'd have to click on that icon anyways so would it not be better to follow what iOS and Android have done and simply create a hub on information that the user can access all at once, in an uncluttered fashion?
Lastly, ask yourself this. What is the most efficient way of displaying a bunch of what is essentially shortcuts all in one place. Is it with small thumbnail images, or with big blocks of colors that you have to scroll through all the time? What is faster and easier on the eyes? Smaller squares or large/medium/small squares all over the screen?
I'm surprised MS has not targeted seniors/mentally challenged. "Look, finally a computer with BIG BIG icons that will not leave you lost!!!"