I use my own email address with a domain I bought linked through gmail to log into windows, and I use it to send/receive email with the email app.
I actually had no intention of buying windows 8...never looked at any of the preview software, didn't bother reading anything about it. I have a rule about buying every second release, so I have managed to skip windows 2000, and windows vista.
But it was only 40 dollars here to upgrade, and came with free windows media center (which I use to stream movies to the xbox so the kids don't mangle my DVD's).
So I could wait, and spend 200$ on the next release, or just upgrade now.
I admit there is some learning to do....I used up my full range of colourful metaphors when I couldn't figure out how to print, for example. (Its a device, under the charms). My life certainly improved when I discovered hot-keys (window-c for charms). But all in all, as I use it, and figure things out, it gets easier and easier to use.
I also picked up a surface, as I needed a tablet that wasn't a toy. And Windows 8 works very well on it.