I just found this and almost came. Like wow, you realize this makes you the king of cool. You should get a NG t-shirt.
Anyway, someone posted up asking about if you'll be customizing all the windows icons, like the my documents, my computer, recycle bin etc. I'm wondering if you will be too. I'm also hoping that you do something with the mice, and perhaps even an alt + tab alternative.
And if I may just interject a small opinion on the start menu thing....I know that personally it would be annoying for my start button to be moved over from the side of the screen. I don't know if that's the case with yours, but if you look at the standard XP skin, I'm thinking just replace where the windows flag is with the angry faic, still inside the button, with start next to it.
And for the font war between you and mind chamber, why not just use the font mindchamber suggests, and then include the font with it. And if the program doesn't let you include a font, then just make the file to download a zip file with the installer for the skin, the font, and a readme file telling the users to install the font first so the skin can use it. But you know....that's just my suggestion. Also you should include some key newgroudns things....like the well known old school preloader look....every one knows that, or the phrase, everything, by everyone.
Lastly...do you have a default desktop image to go with it?