Microsoft was MASSIVELY trying to make web applications a thing. They introduced HTML Applications[1] in 1999 (e.g. Electron). In 2001, they added the JavaScript features that let us have Gmail and Google Maps (XMLHttpRequest). They let you rebuild your Windows desktop or any folder as a HTML in Windows 2000/ME. They created a ton of APIs from web components[2] to CSS effects[3] in 1998.

However, when Netscape died, Microsoft did a 180 and went from the leader in promoting the web to the absolute worst obstruction. It seemed like they completely de-funded their IE development team.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML_Application

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML_Components

[3] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/ms530752... (previously was just filter:)