General point - please install service packs and updates, chaps, especially if you are running 32-bit systems... it's for your own good and that of your fellow man.
How about an option of installing just the OS with nothing else packaged in with it? I've never seen that option, something is always hidden in there which you can do without.
You can make custom Windows installations (without unneeded components, and including current security updates) reasonably easily, either with official MS tools, or with 3rd party tools e.g.
http://www.rt7lite.com/downloads.html
I had to open a Microsoft Account to instal Win. 8.1
You can get around that very simply - just click "create new account" without putting in your info, and then on the next screen the "login without microsoft account" button appears.
I think it's ridiculous that they are pushing this so hard though... one wonders what hoops we will have to jump through to avoid this in Win 8.2...