Not exactly free, just seemingly free. It comes on new computers because they sell it really cheaply to the companies that put it on new computers and to libraries and such. Point being to make it what everyone is used to. Then, they not only monopolize what people are buying, but make a fortune off companies that pay to make sure they're compatible.
My irritation with MS goes back to when I was programming.
But how is that different from Apple? Locked into their system, won't license anyone else to make peripherals or even cheaper "clones". Yes, my OS is Windows (7 and 10), but none of my hardware is from Mickey. And, if I choose, I can reformat and install Linux, and everything will still work. Can't do that with a Mac. (And it was Apple that put all the computers in schools years back, to get kids hooked on their systems.)
Bottom line, imo, is that hardware, software and user desires are always changing, and all the OS makers keep trying to keep up and, to a degree, shape those desires. Not all "legacy"
devices, hard and soft, will stay on the bus, although many will. As users, we just need to keep in mind that what we "need" is hardware that will run the software we want. I have some mission critical software that needs Win, so that's what I run. (Nope, it won't run under Wine on Linux!)
And any new OS comes with a learning curve. And bumps.
Resistance is futile. We used Linux for keeping tabs on our gambling."guests". Total disaster.
