However, you still did not answer the question of what else. The fact is, ALL things considered, MS is still a winner for most installations.
What I need is ... That is where an error usually occurs: you are but one market segement but project onto MS what product-development they should pursue. The decision amounts to a balance between effectiveness (satisfying YOUR demands better) and efficiency (the cost of achieving that goal). For you and me to jusdge whether MS has made a wise decision of providing an UNdifferentiated product, we must see the quantitative analysis of those issues. I am confident that you are not privy to this sensitive information, and neither am I.
In the absence of that info, you and I must suspend judgment --- if we are to remain intellectually honest.
a lean, stable and secure OS that is cost-effective,
Welcome to the club: for years I wanted in a desktop and a laptop a stable and FAST 2-d graphics card. But I am now in a minority: America now does more gaming than spreadsheet analysis or engineering graphics. With the exception of one manufacturere, they do not produce such any more: every one is loaded with 3-d enhancement.
That is another example of a particular demand remining unsatisfied. But I do trust that the entire industry is not wrong from the business prospecive: they figered out that it does not pay to satisfy my demand with a differentiated product. I am not satisfied but I know that the manufacturers are correct in their strategy.
Microsoft products are getting to be like a Lexus with a bad engine. Again, from your standpoint and mine. MS has one of the best marketing groups; nobody's perfect, but you can trust that they look at their data.