That assumes that microsoft’s motives are actually to defend against root kits.
I have little doubt that this is all about competition. “Securing” their future as a monopolist.
No, it doesn't. Whether it provides protecion against rootkits is a techncal question who's answer has nothing to do with whether that was the intended purpose or not.
We've had quite enough problems with flame wars based on unsubstatiated accusations about motives on these threads, and calls to limit discussion to technical issues and the relative merits based on that criteria.
If you want to start a flame war, go find somebody else to help you start it.