this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2025
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You are buying it with your personal data and granting them access to your computer. Even if you don't think that's not worth much, it is still not free. You're just paying with something other than money.
The vast majority of people have already activated Windows with an email address. I have several friends who have done so and for them this cost nothing.
They may accept the ongoing cost, but that doesn't make it free. There may be no cash payment, but that doesn't make it free. Cost comes in many forms. The glib misrepresentation of the transaction is disappointing.
Nothing more.
If they're still using the computer then they're still paying with their data, just like if you subscribe to Netflix, you're still a customer. The fact the you already conceded to paying doesn't negate your ongoing payments.