> The real solution is for Microsoft to treat its customers with a bit more respect.

This company (like most other companies) operates out of greed, and that doesn't go well with respect. They're just trying to milk as much as they can from you.

You can make a profit and treat your customers well.

I'd argue that's only valid if you're a small company.

Once you're a huge corporation with tons of stakeholders, it seems inevitable that you will compromise customers in favor of profits sooner or later.

I feel like this attitude lets big companies off the hook in a way. Yes, as the company grows it becomes more likely that they'll make these compromises, but that doesn't mean it's inevitable.

Shareholders will vote in someone who will compromise.

I didn't read that as letting big companies off the hook. Just the opposite, I read that as a strong condemnation of big companies.

While I agree it seems like it lets them off the hook, that's not on them, it's on the society that shrugs that off as "normal".

But if you follow the logical path from capitalism, it is most definitely inevitable. There is no way to maximize profits without hurting the users.

If one company does the right thing, another will take it's place because it will generate more profit.

Can you imagine a CEO constantly telling it's shareholders that they will not increase profits because they want to "treat customers more fairly"? He'd be sacked in the first opportunity.

> The real solution is for Microsoft to treat its customers with a bit more respect.

Microsoft has embraced the modern development model and its culture as well. In other words, customers are cattle.

Why would they when people keep buying it regardless? Why would a company ever change when they're making more money than ever and the consumers don't care?