I know it's probably a case of "who asked"

No, no. You're welcome here too and your experience is really helpful to share, and also helps to dispell this idea that all Linux users are basement geeks pushing a software cult LOL.

I'm the same way, right there with you. I loved classic Windows for decades. My real last straw was when I was helping my sister with a reinstall and discovered firsthand how pushy they were being with forcing a Microsoft Account.

"Oh no problem, you just have to disable WiFi completely via the switch, otherwise it'll complain that you need an internet connection, so then you need to try three times unsuccessfully on purpose and THEN it'll let you make a local account."

"Ok they don't do that anymore, now you need to use a keyboard shortcut to open a CMD prompt, disable a service..."

It's completely blunt anymore how Microsoft feels about customers: They think we're stupid cattle they've been raising since the 90's to "click OK" and make accounts for anything they want. I wish they weren't so right...

Since then, I found terminal stuff to actually be fun and at least Linux feels like it's MY machine, not like I paid $100+ for a license key to rent their software that always begs me for more and rats on me at every turn.

But yeah, "just switch" isn't helping anyone. We need to guide and support more people into it