[Perhaps I am missing some thing. But the browsers are free, are they not? So why would any one care about Microsoft cornering a market where they are unable to make money?]
Because Windows has woven a nasty web that is everyone’s problem. Internet Explorer is the Operating System, and vice versa. That’s also why Windows is a virus super highway.
I'm not discounting everything you said, but don't you think the biggest reason that MS gets nailed with so many virus' is because of the anti-capitalism anarchist that see a large, ubiquitous and for-profit MS as the ultimate incarnation of "the man"?
For whatever reason, Apple is not looked upon with as much loathing and contempt by the nutbag left and therefore isn't as targeted by the hackers as much.
Sure MS makes it easier because of the incestuous relationship between OS and browser (and other MS apps), but a lot of it has to do with MS as the object of hatred in and of itself.
> Because Windows has woven a nasty web that is everyone’s problem. Internet Explorer is the Operating System, and vice versa. That’s also why Windows is a virus super highway.
Well, as a user if you prefer a different system you always could pick a Linux (or an Apple). In fact you could save yourself several hundred $$$ by not using Microsoft. So where is the problem?