One of the reasons is the value assigned to spyware/crapware subsidises the cost of the physical product and increases over time in a race to the bottom. It's e

One of the reasons is the value assigned to spyware/crapware subsidises the cost of the physical product and increases over time in a race to the bottom. It's especially clear on items that the market suggests you need to upgrade every couple of years to keep them competitively priced, but even long cycle items like laptops and tvs are suffering from it. To start with it looks like you're getting a discount from one manufacturer, but you can spend more for a clean slate, then they all abandon the clean slate models and you can't even buy control. Can you even buy an everyday consumer Windows laptop from without crap on it these days?