"Why do people want to start second-guessing the people who designed the system?"

I can think of a number of reasons:

1. The owner and user of the PC isn't interested in maintaining software on the drive, in the registry and in RAM that was installed by the manufactuter not because it improves performance, but because it puts dollars in the manufacturer's or reseller's account. Pre-installed copies of AOL come to mind here.

2. The software installed by the manufacturer doesn't work. Toshiba's software update program is a good example of this.

3. The computer owner already owns software with which he/she is familiar and has a base of files and/or experience with that performs the same function as the pre-installed software. For example an owner who uses Office removing Works or replacing Norton with their preferred AV software.

Steve's pretty much right on the money. There's also the fact that I like to keep my machines lean and mean (going as far as to format them yearly), and if I'm not using a piece of software weekly, I don't want any part of it left on the machine.

It's not a matter of second-guessing. It's a matter of it being MY system, and having it the way _I_ want it.

Or having no use for xyz feature that takes up another 5~10~15MB extra of RAM on your machine?

That's kind of like wanting to redesign a room in your house and saying, "Why second-guess the builder?" :)

I Just Got My New Tablet PCooeess

I Just Got My New Tablet PCooeess