No kidding, yet you're going to recommend Apache, instead, and leave them at the command line for configuration? Ridiculous.
Prior to IIS 6 (and Win98 was referenced so PWS/IIS 3/4(?) is fair game) this was a very big mistake since most everything got installed and left open by default.
What "most everything"? PWS hardly had anything other than a WWW publishing service to begin with. I shouldn't even waste my time trying to convince you, but recommending Apache for basic home users is a silly idea, both then and now.
Look at the Apache home page for it, not a single screen shot because it's all command line driven, yet you want to foist it on hapless home users just so you can look chic criticizing Microsoft:
In any case, a default install of Apache lets you drop your files in the folder and they get served. Advanced configuration isn’t always necessary, especially for simple home stuff.
And just the fact that MS went out of its way to let home users host sites on their computers scary. The decision was dumb and dangerous with no thought to security, an especially “silly idea.” Kinda reminds me of Outlook.
And remember to remove the tin foil hat before you respond again.