Oh, if only there were more than a handful of applications on Linux distributed as AppImage, and any support given to them at all by file browsers, life would be so much simpler. Linux community hates desktop so much they completely ignored an embedded ELF icon standard and have consistently poo-pooed every non-repo way of dealing with applications ever.
> You want a constantly updated cache of the programs you use in case of the apocalypse
Why would I want that? So I could discover that something I rely on was broken by a recent update only after I have no ability to do anything about it? Well, lets assume so. On Windows this is relatively simple, just keep a copy of Program Files and most applications will still work fine. It's not ideal, but I'll take it over package managers not even being able to install an application to a different disk.
In some mythical parallel dimension where the Windows system directory, user profile directories and the registry don't exist, sure.
User profile and registry are for settings. You can easily keep backups of those as well, but it isn't really necessary unless you have highly tweaked configurations or something.
Have you not touched Windows since 1995?
The way I see it there are 2 different use cases here: 1. You want a few individual apps kept safe on a USB stick in case you need them offline - installers on Win, AppImage on Linux 2. You want a constantly updated cache of the programs you use in case of the apocalypse - pain in the ass on Win, trivial on most Linux
Windows only seems superior here because no. 2 is barely possible, so everyone has gotten good at no. 1.