You're incredibly naive if you really think that a Windows box can last longer than the Mac if this stunt were duplicated on said Windows box.
Windows may be better than its earlier versions, but it's nowhere at the level of the Mac--or Unix, Linux, BSD, etc. for that matter.
I agree, while at Georgia Tech I had the misfortune of a computer crash and still had a chance to recover my data. I then reformatted my computer and began to reinstall windows. I had to leave for class before the install was complete, so I didn't have a chance to install my firewall (which is my first step after reinstalling).
The funniest part was I forgot to unplug the network cable from my computer and by the time I got back my computer had been infected by a trojan, which was attempting to replicate itself on the Georgia Tech network.
Well, this is against the Georgia Tech AUP so my connection to the internet was blocked. I had to reinstall again with the network cable unplugged, get my firewall installed, and then call OIT to get my connection to the internet reestablished.
My estimate of how long it took my windows installation to be compromised was roughly 20 minutes.
This article backs up my estimate (not that I trust CNet on a very regular basis)