I think this is in a large part due to the way programs install on Windows perhaps. These programs seem to rely on getting the user to make a choice during ins

I think this is in a large part due to the way programs install on Windows perhaps. These programs seem to rely on getting the user to make a choice during installation time. Windows is the only major OS that seems to rely on "installers" being programs in their own right. For example on debian, .deb packages provide a standard installation process. Whilst it would still certainly be possible to inject all types of crapware into a .deb the actual install process is not really conductive to this, because there is no way (AFAIK) to pop a custom screen during the install.