Um, could we make Windows-Tab useful?

Vi•sta |'vistə| noun a pleasing view, esp. one seen through a long, narrow opening : a vista of church spires. • a mental view of a succession of remembered or anticipated events : vistas of freedom seemed to open ahead of him. - Oxford American Dictionaries

I would like to add one more definition:

• a Windows based operating system released by Microsoft in 2007 which can obfuscate the mundane while heralding the advanced: While using Vista he pondered the significance of Windows Flip 3D (Windows-Tab) as it's functionality duplicated Windows Flip (Alt-Tab).

Talk about déjà vu! For the uninitiated, Windows-Tab (Windows Flip 3D) allows you to "quickly" switch through different running application in Vista, but in "3-D". Did I say "3-D"? I meant, "Flip 3-D". That's right, Flip 3-D! You get to "flip" through your running application windows (in mid-air even), grab the one you want and then effortlessly sling it through space and time to your utmost attention. You can even do it without those uncomfortable red and blue cardboard glasses!

At least, that is how I imagine it was pitched.

In reality, however, it is the same Alt-Tab Windows Flip, only bigger, with an isometric like view that actually hides the information its size would have otherwise helpfully conveyed. One might argue that it does allow one to see more than Alt-Tab ever displayed in XP. True. Is it truly more helpful, though? Not in my opinion. Here is how I would suggest MS improve Flip-3D: Make it more like Exposé on the Mac.

Imagine if you could use Windows Flip (Alt-Tab) to switch between all open applications and Windows Flip 3-D for all windows not minimized to the task bar? Or vice versa? Personally, I think that would be a lot more useful. Really, they just needed to do their version of Exposé. Not half-way do it.

Yeah, but what about Instant Viewer, you ask? No, that is just one feature of Exposé tied to hardware. I am talking about fully mimicking a concept that could change how Windows users natively use their open windows at the time of purchasing Vista. I guess my real gripe is that Windows never, from a user standpoint, truly differentiates between minimized and other windows (when it comes to switching). If I just minimized a window, do I want to see it right away? Not really. Of course, that is a Mac way of looking at things. Sometimes it is good to select minimized with maximized or less than maximized windows. I am sure Linux has found a way to harmonize things? I wouldn't be surprised.

As stated above, there are most likely 3rd party apps that do what I suggest. It is as a wise man once stated, "there is nothing new under the sun." However, I am focusing on tools out of the box that add more value to the user experience. Particularly if it is advertised as such. Windows Flip-3D, heralded as it is (by MS), is really not much more than a t-shirt on a dog: Interesting, but does little good for the animal regardless of how tickled the owner is with it. This is significant, because in the current landscape, from a user's perspective, there are some big cats out there.