You cant test everything with VM, the reason the drivers of actual hardware are not loaded there and its not a real testing environment. Its a virtual environment. If something runs on VM, thats no guarantee it will run on actual machine.
As i said before, I do a lot of testing and I deal with loads of files. So I need to find files, folders etc based on so many parameters like file size, modification, some text inside file and other advance parameters. At that point, its very difficult to define these advance parameters.I never have to try it, because i have to USE it instead.
Its much different from XP's. And i accept that its little tougher to use at first go. But you would feel pleased with you when you keep on using it.
The search function or overall Windows 7 is for average users with advance options either put OFF or removed or deep hidden inside.