Microsoft's Windows objective is, and has always been, to build everyone else's product in and integrate it all tightly together, no matter how bloated that makes Windows. This strategy is to force all other software vendors out of the Windows market (which they expected to be the only market by now).

Once all others were gone, they could charge anything they wanted under any terms they want (and they want Software as a Service, leased by the month/year so they have your data as well as your software, and don't have to bother with all these stinking upgades. Pay year after year for the same damned crap and for access to your own business data because you have no choice).

Bill Gates (a couple months ago): "I believe in the long run that is the way it will be architected".

It's too bad Linux screwed their pooch, but, hey, that's the breaks. The level of extortion they can achieve is now limited, though still quite high enough to be painful, and to drag down the technology industry and the general economy.

The unagreeable States tried to force your "core version", but Microsoft's puppets in the Bush/Ashcroft oligarchy read their scripts well and refused to let it happen.