Absolutely a conference room decision to try to push more people to their browser. Apple see their OSes as a way to sell hardware. Microsoft very clearly sees their OS as a way to sell ads. I was hopeful for a sec as aspects of Windows got better and better, but the amount of junk that's appeared lately really feels user hostile. I don't want to "stay up to date with news and interests" in the dang start menu. No one ever has.