Windows 8 Start Screen Customization for All Users

Question

Short Versions:
How can I permanently remove (and prevent automatic re-installation of) some of the default Packaged Applications installed on Windows 8 Pro?
How can I save a customized tile arrangement?
Long Version:  I'm configuring a semi-automated testing system using MDT2012 to install Windows 8 to multiple hardware configurations.  I would like to be able to remove all of the
default applications except for the Desktop, and Internet Explorer.  I would like to add applications such as the Command Prompt, and Notepad.  Ideally, I would be able to group the tiles in various ways, capture the configuration, and push it to
all of the automatically generated accounts so that we get a standard layout when testing with a User Account, a Guest Account, and/or an Administrator account.
Windows 7 and Vista have both been working perfectly for over a year (with MDT2010), and I've managed to update them to work with MDT2012 without too much trouble.  I've gotten all of the
custom configurations to work, through various means (some scripting, some unattended settings, some task sequence editing, some extensions for the MDT, etc.), however there is one remaining set of configurations that eludes me.  The Start Screen.
So far, I have tried running a PowerShell script to perform the Remove-AppxProvisionedPackaged during the Audit-User phase, running sysprep /generalize, and capturing the system to a WIM (both
with, and without the CopyProfile setting), and I'm able to get most of the user settings, the exceptions being the Start Screen, and the default view of the various folders.  I work around the latter by exporting/importing the Bags registry settings
into the default user account; however the former has completely eluded me.  I have also tried configuring group policy settings; however those only work with the Enterprise edition (which isn't what our customers will be using, so changing the SKU isn't
an option).

Answer 1

- Change lock screen to all users:  This can be done now via Group Policy due to an update (see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2787100/EN-US)
- Remove many of default Apps/icons on metro desktop: This is best scripted as part of your Image build process, but I agree that more granularity in GPO would be nice over "Hiding" default AppX packages.
- Design a custom theme and push it out to all machines:  This has been possible since Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2.  The below detail about the setting is from the Group Policy Settings Reference (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25250),
an invaluable file for anyone managing GPO:
File Name: ControlPanelDisplay.admx
Policy Setting Name: Load a specific theme
Scope: User
Policy Path: Control Panel\Personalization
Registry Information: HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization!ThemeFile
Supported On: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Help Text: Specifies which theme file is applied to the computer the first time a user logs on.If you enable this setting, the theme that you specify will be applied when a new user logs on for the first time.  This policy does not prevent the user
from changing the theme or any of the theme elements such as the desktop background, color, sounds, or screen saver after the first logon. If you disable or do not configure this setting, the default theme will be applied at the first logon.
David Coulter | http://DCtheGeek.blogspot.com | @DCtheGeek