Microsoft DO like playing at being nanny knows best
Well, when one is selling a tarted-up 20yr old hack-job of an operating system, never designed with the internet in mind, been senselessly battered by repeated exploits of their swiss-cheese security, and having gone so far down the road they can't turn back, they don't have much choice.
My advice? Use Linux, or buy a Mac.
Shunter (who only admits to being an MCSE to close friends and family)