I'm no MS fanboy here, but I think Apple is worse.

Firstly Windows is arguably the most unrestrictive OS (certainly among the commercial options). You can install pretty much anything you like, from anywhere you like. Contrast to say Android or iOS it's a wild-west.

If one wants to get on the "browser freedom" train, Windows is a strange choice over say iOS.

I guess the browser change process is not universal even on Windows. I recently installed a new W11 laptop and both Chrome and FF installed fine with no drama. Sure Edge wants to be default, so does Chrome, so does FF. All nag a bit in the beginning.

Describing a browser change as "nearly impossible" seems a tad hyperbolic to me. It's really easy.

It's also a one-and-done task. Not really something to get all wound up about.

Compare Windows to macOS instead of iOS and the equation changes significantly.