This is a really good way to describe modern non-free OSes (Windows, OSX, Android, iOS, the gamut). They're all asking me to sign into their services and always be connected and let them monitor everything I do and make suggestions and store everything I own on their servers. And when you try to turn all that off, everything falls apart. This is OK on my phone, which is really just an Internet portal, but on my desktop I expect my stuff to be my stuff. I guess many consumers like this (?), but I sure don't.

These days, I use Arch Linux and laugh haughtily at the crap proprietary OS users have to put up with.

EDIT: about this:

> The feeling is I don't really have control over the OS anymore, so I think it's time to move on soon to alternatives.

I had the same feeling since Windows 8, then I moved to Linux-based distributions. Never regretted it. I still have to deal with Windows when someone at work screws something up with their computer, but that's about it.

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/

Though I agree that skype and windows have some serious user experience issues.

wish I was kidding

Super fun when you're trying to do a Skype call with a remote coworker and debug a web server at the same time.

The desktop app does not pick up your Windows login - you actually have to log in and ask Skype to remember your credentials. This works on local user accounts as well as accounts authenticated with a Microsoft account.

Try downloading Skype Portable. My Skype account is still just a username (not tied to either a Microsoft or Facebook account) and works great without any integration into the OS.

Not sure what to make of this.