> all the stupid hardware config apps

Similar pet peeve, and I think the solution to this is the platform setting, adopting, and enforcing conventions. Something like what has happened with notebook trackpads[1] about a decade ago, and more recently RGB peripherals[2]—no more cancerous giant Electron app to move a few sliders and set an RGB hex code.

[1]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/win32/input-precis...

[2]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/xbox/gdk/docs/features/com...