They're forcing people to online accounts by putting the offline option in the basement, it's the standard 'nudge' in software. Eventually they'll eliminate it completely.
Some would consider this one a dark pattern, I would agree in this case.
Some would consider this one a dark pattern, I would agree in this case.
It would mean the death of Windows.
Not necessarily. Remember that Windows is an Azure product now. They want employees in the cloud paying for Office 365 anyway.
I bet some companies will end up doing exactly that. For others there will probably remain an exception that will cost extra.
(I may be saying this as if it's normal, but I need to turn up my cynicism quite a bit to fit this reality.)