Windows 11 – There's still nothing worth my time

Hardware & TPM Requirements

• Many see Windows 11’s TPM 2.0 + CPU whitelist as arbitrary and wasteful: capable machines (e.g., early Ryzen, Threadripper) are blocked despite performing fine for everyday and dev workloads.
• This is linked to e‑waste and climate concerns: forcing replacement of usable PCs contradicts reuse and sustainability goals; some suggest regulators could act.
• Others counter that TPM has been standard for years and that critics often misunderstand it. They argue Windows 11’s security features (VBS, BitLocker/device encryption) justify mandating TPM.

Security vs Control

• Strong defense of TPM and Windows Defender: TPM is described as a clear net security win for normal users; Defender is considered vastly better than third‑party AV, which is often viewed as bloatware or spyware.
• Power users resent forced security: difficulty fully disabling Defender, false positives on legitimate tools, and the principle that it’s “not your computer” if you can’t turn things off.
• Some note that TPM is really about restricting untrusted software, including anti‑cheat and DRM, which raises privacy and user‑control worries.

User Experience, Performance & Nagware

• Widespread criticism of Windows 11’s UI: harder to see active windows, inconsistent Win32 vs WinUI behavior, sluggish Explorer and Alt‑Tab, fragmented settings, and overall aesthetic regression compared to older Windows.
• Performance complaints include general slowness, Defender causing large build slowdowns, and start-menu searches blocked by web/telemetry integration.
• Persistent nags for Microsoft accounts and “finish setting up” screens are seen as hostile upsell behavior. Ads, Copilot push, and telemetry reinforce the sense that Windows serves Microsoft first.

Compatibility, LTSC & Staying on Windows 10

• Some plan to stick with Windows 10 Pro or LTSC/IoT (legit or pirated/gray‑market keys) after 2025, or disable TPM to block auto‑upgrade.
• Others warn that eventually key software or games (especially with kernel anti‑cheat + TPM) will be Windows 11–only. QEMU+KVM+EmuTPM is mentioned as a VM workaround.

Alternatives: Linux and macOS

• Several report successful switches to Linux (dev, gaming via Proton, local LLMs, basic office/web) and say Win11’s barriers make Linux more attractive.
• Counterpoints stress Linux’s rough edges: distro fragmentation, Wayland/X11, packaging, VR support, and terminal‑heavy troubleshooting.
• A few moved to macOS, but others reject Apple’s hardware lock‑in, pricing, and single‑GPU path.

Broader Philosophy & Direction

• Underlying theme: loss of user ownership. PCs increasingly act as thin clients to Microsoft services, with subscriptions, cloud tie‑ins, and ads.
• Some lament regressions and “change for change’s sake,” despite acknowledging deep engineering work under the hood and long‑term backward compatibility.