Not sure why you toss the Ribbon into the discussion about the menu, as it is a different interface element altogether. (It would better be compared to the toolbar in certain Apps). And yes, this is an element I agree has some merit.The universal menubar is probably the one thing I really don't like about OSX. If you've got one window or app maximized, it's okay, but if you want to get to it from one small window, you have to go to it, click it, then move all the way back up to the top to do your thing.
I think Windows tagging the menu bar on each window works far, far better here. And like dude guy said above, with the ribbon taking over everything, you end up with with a bunch of larger icons that are easier to hit without as much travelling.
How on earth anyone find it hard to move the cursor to the top of the screen with Apple's pointer acceleration is frankly beyond me. Traditionally the menu elements in Windows (and MacOS) have been quite small targets making it somewhat of a pain in Windows especially. (As you have to accurately find the right spot with the pointer rather than the aforementioned flick of a mouse). In later Windows iterations it seems like MS has somewhat "solved" the problem by creating larger menus(!) Pretty much an example of trying to cure the symptoms rather than fixing the underlying illness...
But hey, I guess we won't agree on this either way, but I for one hope Apple stick by the (one?) remaining element that has been a key part of every MacOS since 1984.