What really amazes me is how utterly primitive the microsoft update processes are. Install a copy of Win 7 on a clean disk. Then start updating, (I'm not even talking about updating to Win 10). Just the update process to get you fully patched up will take at least 5 consecutive reboot and download sessions. You think you've installed everything, and do that post-install reboot (which is insane in and of itself). When your computer gets back online and contacts the mothership, you end up with another series of updates to load, and yet another inevitable reboot.
I just loaded up Linux Mint on a friend's computer who was upgrading from a really ancient version of Fedora I'd loaded for him several years ago. The install process was really straightforward. You booted off the DVD, answered a few questions then rebooted off the hard disk you just set up. Restore your home directories from your backup as it downloads the new updates, then if you like you can continue on your way. Personally I recommend a clean boot after your reload and your initial updates just to make sure your system is stable after the install, but it's not really necessary.
The whole process took me about 2 hours from start to finish, and that's with the restore of his home directories and me pointing out a few changes in how things worked.
Try doing that with windows, even with a brand new purchased copy of windows 10.
I did that less than a week ago. I didn't mind all the reboots so much as the fact that the "Checking for updates..." window ran for one hour and forty minutes before a list of updates was even displayed. Just displayed -- not downloaded. No progress meter, of course. This was on a reasonably fast computer on a broadband connection. Then the updates from that list had to be downloaded and installed, and three failed updates had to be repeatedly reinstalled.
Yes, I would call that "primitive."
You're also right about Linux Mint. Its update system is faster and smoother than Windows Update. I've never had a problem caused by a Mint update. Also, I don't worry that the updates are intended to violate my privacy or install unwanted software.
It seems a little strange that Microsoft is behaving more and more like a monopoly now that its competition is so much stronger.