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I think they did this because the anti-trust ruling from the early 2000s does not apply to ARM-based computers, only Intel-based machines. I guess the software lockdown proves that Microsoft hasn't changed and the late 90s Microsoft is still with us.

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Not that I don't believe you, but is there a source for this (the anti-trust ruling being specific to Intel hardware)? I'd love to read more about the specifics.

If you read the Wikipedia page and the linked ruling, you'll see that the language is very specific to "Operating Systems on Intel Compatible PCs".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_C....

And it expired 8 - 10 years ago

> Microsoft's obligations under the settlement, as originally drafted, expired on November 12, 2007. However, Microsoft later "agreed to consent to a two-year extension of part of the Final Judgments" dealing with communications protocol licensing.

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