If Ubuntu's purpose is to bring in new people, wouldn't the wisest choice be to make the interface as similar to the "hated-but-known" Windows interface?
No, because they're trying to establish themselves as something different and unique. Personally I like unity, after using it I don't see myself going back. It's much easier to just press the windows key type the program name and hit enter then navigating through the old gnome menu.
I also think it's much easier for novice computer users because it helps you get stuff done. I press the windows key and it brings up the unity panel I can type:
bittorrent - it shows vuze in the listing
image editor - gimp
office - libreoffice
email - evolution
internet - google chrome
It's genius, because this is what novice computer users want. It's not some muscle memory ui with the requirement of knowing what applications are called what. They've sat down and watched what computer users have problems with an addressed those problems.