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After years I still fail to understand how Microsoft thinks an OS is worth the prices it charges.

Show me an operating system (that comes with support) that is cheaper.

Ubuntu is $104.99/year for the cheapest support offering from Canonical. OS-X is more.

Android is free, but you have to pay to license the Google Apps (exactly how much no one is saying).

Vast majority of Ubuntu and Linux users don't pay for support - that's the difference - they have a choice. With Windows there is no choice, just a huge fee going to Microsoft, who are trying desperately to hang onto the lead in the desktop OS market.

You actually do have a choice. If you buy an OEM copy from, say, Newegg, there is no support included. That's part of the reason it is so much cheaper than the retail version.

Windows doesn't come with support. The manufacturer has to handle it.

Yes and no.

Microsoft doesn't support the consumer directly, but it does support the manufacturer.

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