Independent reviews need to be done. I can only assume bias with this post.
https://github.com/MicrosoftEdge/BrowserEfficiencyTest/
They have released their test methodology and code, so you can independently review to your hearts content.
Despite obviously wanting to be the market leader, they seem to be genuinely interested in helping everybody else up their game too. It's nice to see from such a large company
No, they are not.
The speed of Microsoft's transformation from universally hated evil FUD masters to white and fluffy friends of everyone really boggles one's mind. Just as does the gullibility and naivete of those taking it all for face value. Microsoft may be missing Balmer as a head figure, but it is the same old corporation that doesn't give a flying fuck about anything or anyone except for its own interests, which has been made abundantly clear by their past and prsent Windows 10 shenannigans. "We hear you loud and clear, you want to have better control over telemetry, so we included a choice of vaseline flavours in Creators Update." But, yeah, let's focus on their fresh coat of marketing paint with liberal sprinkle of github repos and assume that all these surely come from some other Board of directors and CEO.
Fish rots from the head. Microsoft has never been an ethical company and it still is not.
No, I don't believe it is. Their actions help themselves, their competitors and their users. That's really as good as you can hope for with a profit-driven company.
Companies will always engage in marketing and other profit-driven, competitive activities. Some companies manage to do so while having a positive effect on the world around them, some do not. Most long-lived companies (such as MS) will go through all the possible phases at various stages of their life.
Right now, MS is being a good player. They are releasing useful products and doing so in a way that benefits more than just themselves. They haven't always been like this, and won't always be like this, but deserve credit when they are. Like all other companies.