The OS is fairly interesting in their newest copy protection. It will work for 30 days without registration and then will require registration (internet) or it will stop working. Also, it will download patches in the background and apply them.
Finally, when a new version is released it will give you a certain amount of time (30 days) to use your current OS before upgrading to the new version. Would that be great? Boot up the machine and see the big fat MS Critical dialog box saying "Please upgrade to the newest version of Make Bill Rich".
All in all, it sucks out loud.
I will not move my company this direction until I find out that I can get a version that is not so imposing and controlling. In the mean time, we will run Windows 2000 for our client machines because it is essentially the same OS (with a few less options and a different gui) and is far more stable than the 98/95/ME/home user crap.
Also, now that they are no longer supporting a home environment (XP Home just has less networking capabilities) there will be old OS compatibility issues with newer software. It's unfortuante, but unavoidable that I can tell.
And I really don't think the Russian version is going to give you any more or less copy protection. After all, that group (you know the blade 1911 and DOD) are both FROM Russia so there is some need for copy protection in that version.