> lowbrow Microsoft tactics

It's funny you say this because when I read the solution my first thought was that's such an Apple thing.

Probably a generational and professional divide. I switched to Apple after a decade of coding on Windows, in 2006 when they were known for introducing UNIX as a commercial platform that effectively killed planned obsolescence in consumer software platforms. I'm still on their system today enjoying the fruits of that pivot that Steve Jobs effected with the NeXT team.