Those two things actually have different functions in OS X. Command-tab switches applications (equivalent to clicking an app's icon in the Dock, only from the keyboard), whereas Exposé switches windows. Alt-tab on Windows has always been window-based, not application-based, right?
Anyway, I appreciate hearing the experience of someone more familiar with Windows.
No problem and the dullness thing, ya I didnt get that part. I thought you meant you couldnt tell which was the active window because the colour / shade didnt change when you tried it. One more thing I found it does but I forgot to mention is it hightlights the "X" for closing the window in red when the window is active and its grey when the window is not the active window.