Linux has come along way, there was a time just getting Linux to run, and then to run apps on it was just unmanageable. I mean, you could do it but most people wouldn't want to compile the kernel. Nor would they know where to start to do that, coming from Windows XP or even 7. They'd ask, what's a kernel, and all you had was a terminal, and I assume the terminal wasn't as user friendly as it is now back then but idk about that.

Windows use to just work out of the box, Microsoft used to care back then because in my opinion they were just trying to sell the idea of just using a computer to people. Now that they got people using computers, most with Windows on it then they go to the next phase, make money. The product is less of a concern, but they want to make money off their users.

You can expect Windows to be more modern and up to date on corporate trends, but not so what you want as a user. They aren't trying to sell computers and operating systems any more, they already got people hooked to using their os, that's what they probably cared about back then.