I've never encountered something I would call "windows registry issues", but people obsess over resolving said issues. I suspect it's a combination of (1) The registry being Windows-specific (so it logically follows that some percentage of windows issues are a result of it (B) it's a mysterious "database" of "hives" and "hkeys" (to most people) (C) It's easily accessible. Hey man, look at all of those things in your registry. It's clearly loading down your system. Pay $14.99 for my registry re-cleanser and it'll be good as new!