I've been using Windows on the desktop since 3.1. I dabble in linux on the desktop from time to time, and I use it on servers, but I've never made the switch.

I was recently spurred to action by two things.

1. The forced news widget in my taskbar. 2. Being forced to sign into a Microsoft Account to setup my father's laptop. The onscreen prompts promised me that I could disable the account later if I wished.

We all see what's coming here. We're experiencing different levels of it all over the place.

My work machine (as in, the device I use to make my living with and the only device I can't actively "play with") is now running Arch.

I'm out. You guys can do what you want, but there is zero chance this nonsense doesn't continue and get worse.