The linux kernel updates every day, yes, but unless there's a security issue, you don't _have to_ reboot into every new kernel your distribution pushes. Certainly no one forces you to.

Why does it nag me so often, then?

Because Ubuntu is trying as hard as it can to turn into Windows-but-with-the-Linux-kernel.

Indeed, it sometimes feels like they are getting right in lane for a Microsoft acquisition.

I'm kinda surprised it hasn't happened with all the mutual love (eg Ubuntu being the poster child for WSL)

This drives me nuts and I wish I could turn it off.

To be fair, it doesn't bug me when I use stumpwm instead of the default WM, but the default WM is otherwise quite nice for most things.

Unlike Windows, you CAN turn that off. Ultimately it's a service you can either configure or remove or even replace with another.

Even at it's worst, the worst distro with the worst default behavior, it's still nothing close to as inconsiderate as Windows.

I don't understand the complaint.

You should be able to disable all updates or set a time period of how often you want to be asked

"Need" is a bit much. I know companies that haven't updated or rebooted servers in years. A few weeks ago I logged into a server with a 1400 day uptime.

That doesn't mean it's not a ticking time bomb though.. I could understand this in very special legacy production situations with almost air-gapped security mitigations. Otherwise it's just laxness and a hack waiting to happen.

We have some Windows 95-era crap that's still there because it controls stuff that would cost millions to replace and the vendor is long out of business. But certainly nobody is "logging into it" as a side note. They're physically and logically isolated. You can do it if the risks are otherwise controlled but it should be the last resort and it's extremely impractical. You basically need a situation where every single network packet allowed to go in or out is dissected and validated. And I don't just mean at the protocol level.

That server better be well fenced off from general internet access and have a couple of layers in between. It is prime pickings for a root kit.

You can pin the kernel version if you like. Still things might get wonky and you'll have to log out of the DE and back in again after an update.