I agree. Around 2008 when I got my first SSD installed, windows 7 and PCLinuxOS2007 would open apps like Word instantly. You'd click and it'd be there within 100ms.

Now with windows 10 on a much faster pc, clicking apps like Firefox, the start menu, word take seconds to load.

I recently fired up my windows 7 VM to mod an old game console and it was exactly how I remembered. You click something and it's instantly opened.

Thankfully, you are welcome to use something else that puts your needs before that of big brother(s).