I love Windows 7. Skipped Vista, and hope to avoid Windows 8.

But I don't love Aero.  The first thing I do is with a new computer is disable Aero.  Not so much because it's a memory hog (though it is), but because I don't like how it looks.  I'm easily distracted, and don't like animations, transparency, etc. if not needed.  I've got all animations blocked in Firefox; I have to intentionally drop shields to see anything that moves.  No way am going to have that crap on my own desktop.

I do put up a slideshow of wallpapers when my parents are visiting.  I use my own photos, and it keeps the 'rents endlessly fascinated and out of my hair.  ;-)

For me, wallpaper is more for other people to see.  I don't even notice it after the first day or two, so it's a waste for just me.