If you want to willingly give over your personal information and privacy, which in fact Microsoft does take from you (no need to speak of supposition), that's certainly your decision to make and it's not my place to tell you if that's what's best for you or not. I also think you are imputing motive to Linux advocates that's not real - I don't think any of us are trying to tell you shouldn't be allowed to do what you want with your personal info. We are saying that if you use those systems, the only way you get a choice in the matter is if you go to significant lengths that defy how the vendor tries to force you their system. You are free to embrace those terms as much you like.
The "in exchange for working software" is also a needless swipe. Maybe there's some contingent of Linux users that use it just because they love tinkering, but most Linux users do real work with our systems. Personally, I'm more interested in the work I do with my system than I am with working on my system.
I didn't say "Linux advocates" I said "MANY Linux advocates". Linux users can be broadly bisected along various criteria and one of them is how much they care about "saving users from themselves" a.k.a. "knowing what's best for you". I include in that group people who will say that using Windows is fine, but will needle and jab at anyone they see using non-free software, as though it's their civic duty to goad people into submission.