If you're looking for better maximize/window management, check out the open source app ShiftIt. Works sort of like aero snap in windows 7, with a quick keystroke to fully maximize a window. I use it all the time.
100% agree about giving the default Mac configuration a chance. Often it's better thought out (or actually thought-out at all) and will work better if you learn the "mac way" to do things. Except the window maximizing—that's really an inexcusable shortcoming of the OS IMHO.
I refreshed it for 10.7+/retina and compiled a build - check it out here: http://trisweb.github.com/ShiftIt/
100% agree about giving the default Mac configuration a chance. Often it's better thought out (or actually thought-out at all) and will work better if you learn the "mac way" to do things. Except the window maximizing—that's really an inexcusable shortcoming of the OS IMHO.