> We are introducing the ability to reposition it to the top or sides of your screen, making it [the taskbar] easier to personalize your workspace.

Ehm, what? Windows XP had this feature. Pretty sure that Vista and 7 did too. I had plenty of friends who used the taskbar in non-standard edges.

Did they recently REMOVE the feature and are now bragging about introducing this "new" feature, or am I missing something?

You are not missing anything