The worst support for older hardware on new operating systems really comes from the manufacturers, not Microsft.
I'm no MS fanboy, but the reality is that hardware manufacturers have an agenda which does not include developing drivers for older hardware to work with new generation operating system technology.
Printer manufactures (as an example) are in the business of selling more ink, to do so, they constantly release new printers at low prices in order to get hardware into homes and the thirst for ink to begin.

This is nothing new.
The same thing happened when XP was released.

As for Creative drivers - yes well - Creative have quite a reputation there.