It's easier to ask for forgiveness (and be subject to lawsuits) than permission (and have a bunch of people opt-out). Microsoft needs a weapon against Google a

It's easier to ask for forgiveness (and be subject to lawsuits) than permission (and have a bunch of people opt-out). Microsoft needs a weapon against Google and Apple, who are both well underway into becoming 'services' companies, and whose devices we walk around with every single day. Microsoft is trying to leverage installed base it still has in some people's homes to drive some traffic to integrated Microsoft services, the same way Google and Apple have driven traffic to their properties from day one. They can't afford not to be aggressive -- the average person will vacillate over the Windows 10 upgrade but then install Chrome on every single device without question. If you were in Microsoft's shoes, what would you do? (And not mismanaging your product lines for the previous 8 years is a cheeky non-answer)