If MS adds high function features to Windows the regulatory authorities come down on them like a ton of bricks at the behest of the 3rd party developers, if a 3rd party developer reverse engineers a MS product the regulators turn a blind eye… or give the 3rd party developer a grant.
I use several Word add-ins, one of which was abandoned in 2016 the other in 2018, they are COM addins written in C++ shipped as DLLs. Not only do they still work in 2024… in one case the Add-in works better (faster and more reliably) than it did in 2018… which one's that… ePUB Tools.
Like all successful businesses making money has always been a major focus for MS; any business where its not a major focus will fail… Q.E.D Apple Mk1.
Large corporations and governments have always been MS's primary targets. I've had lunch "with Gates" three times, at a large Sydney based financial services firm, at a Hong Kong bank, and a large teaching hospital (memorably in a partially dismantled operating theatre). However he has never dropped into my place see me for a cup of tea
BR