Would it be fair to say, that the upgrades are not for actually making the os better, but for controlling consumers for money?
Yes, it is fair to say that many Windows updates are driven by Microsoft's business goals, not just technical improvements.
Microsoft increasingly uses Windows as a platform to promote services like OneDrive, Microsoft 365, and Edge, often integrating ads and prompts into the OS. As one analysis notes, Microsoft is hiring teams to build "subsidized Windows experiences" that recoup costs through ads and upsells.
While security and stability updates are essential, feature updates often prioritize cloud integration, AI (like Copilot), and telemetry—features that benefit Microsoft’s ecosystem and revenue. Users frequently report that updates break functionality, reintroduce unwanted features, or degrade privacy.
Since Windows 11, Microsoft has aligned hardware requirements (like TPM 2.0 and NPU for Copilot+) with its AI push, suggesting updates are not just about progress, but driving adoption of new, monetizable technologies.
In short: Windows updates serve Microsoft’s strategic and financial interests, which sometimes conflict with user preferences for simplicity, control, and stability.