There has definitely been a trade off. I recently had to install Win 8 on a Surface, and had all but forgotten the days of a fresh install needing 100+ updates,

There has definitely been a trade off. I recently had to install Win 8 on a Surface, and had all but forgotten the days of a fresh install needing 100+ updates, which require multiple download/install/reboot/repeat cycles. Win 10 has less flexibility for deciding how the update happens, but I also almost never reboot anymore. I can probably count the number of times I've had to reboot for Win 10 on one hand, whereas it was a given for nearly every update pre-Win 10. Having said that, your point about needing a reboot at all is well taken.