Can't Open (Sign In) to Mail App with "work account"

Question

First, I absolutely hate Microsoft Accounts and everything they imply. With that in mind, everything I do with Windows 8.1 I try to avoid or hack around Microsoft Accounts.
Following the instructions provided in the this technet blog:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/pauljones/archive/2013/10/07/windows-8-1-mail-app-without-microsoft-account.aspx
I had hoped to gain access to the Mail App without a Microsoft Account.
Apparently, even this "fix" was snake oil.
First let me say, it's not that I can't sign into the Mail App. I can't open it. The entrance to the Mail App is purposefully blocked by the need for a Microsoft Account or some mysterious "Sign in with your work account".
The actual details needed to for that "work account" (is it an "Enterprise Account"??) are not documented and there is no way around it.
The instructions that Microsoft does provide tell me to swipe and open up settings... then add an account--like IMAP. That is impossible to perform, because the mail app is not open. The settings for the Mail App are not available and there is no "account"
button to press yet.
So my question is simple. How do I fake the Mail App into thinking there is some "work account" that will open the front door and let me configure basic IMAP email, etc. You know, like in the old simple way that work for thirty years before the
brown's at microsoft decided to change it.

Answer 1

 How do I fake the Mail App into thinking there is some "work account" that will open the front door and let me configure basic IMAP email, etc. You know, like in the old simple way that work for thirty years before the brown's at microsoft decided
to change it.
My best answer would be to suggest you use Thunderbird Email client.
However I have had success with a combination of the following Group Policy settings
Run the program "gpedit" (gpedit.msc) and after making the changes you can run "gpupdate /force" to apply the changes to the current logged in user, or simply restart the computer.
You can totally disable the use of Microsoft Accounts and the Windows Store, while still allowing users to make used of already installed Windows Store Apps.  
NB: If you want to use any Windows Store Apps, install the apps before disabling Windows Store.
You can still enable the automatic updating of Windows Store Apps, even when the Windows Store is disabled.
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\"Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts" to "Users can't add or log on with Microsoft accounts"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Internet Communications Management\Internet Communications settings\"Turn off access to the Store" to "Disabled"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\App runtime\"Allow Microsoft accounts to be optional" to "Enabled"  (NB: allows the use of Windows Store apps even when the use of a Microsoft Account is disabled, this setting will be
required if you want to use the Mail App)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store\"Turn off the Store application" to "Enabled"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store\"Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates" to "Enabled"
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Store\"Turn off Automatic Download of updates on Win8 machines" to "Enabled"
If you want to disable Syncing of data, see;
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Sync your settings\"Do not sync passwords"
You may have to try connecting with few different email accounts, I was about to succeed with a Exchange account.