My name is Elizabeth Olive Fly. I am a nobody from Appalachia, that happens to technically be a published author (through Amazon). Writing is my life. I probably spend 24hrs each week staring at blinking text documents on my PC. Ever since I first learned to type (age 4), on Windows 3, my word processor of choice has always been Wordpad. I am familiar with Microsoft Word, as well as Notepad, but they could not begin to compare; for the feeling of typing up a document on Wordpad is an experience that can't be beat. Since the beginning, this program has truly taken ahold of my heart as the greatest medium for writing. I relied on it for 18 years, on a daily basis, to get the job done, including throughout the creation of my new novel this year. Halfway through the editing process, Wordpad was forcibly removed from my PC (against my will), via a Windows 11 update that seemed to be attempting to streamline me into using Word. Notepad can hold its own for very simplistic .txt documents, but for the crafting of a novel, it is simply not compatible. This left me with only Microsoft Word as an option, without using third party sources. I have used Word plenty for school, but only because I was forced to. I detest everything about it - its overconfident proofing language, its user interface in general, the over complexity of its features, conflicts with file types constantly breaking the structure of documents, its direct link to Microsoft office as a whole... but I digress. I have avoided using it in my personal life since the dawn of its creation, and I would've continued if this tragedy hadn't struck us recently. Wordpad is infinitely better than Microsoft Word for many reasons. It is simple enough to be totally user friendly, while still maintaining a wide variety of formating options,  its Rich Text Document file type is universally cross-compatible, its lack of page breaks and/or word count offers an almost hypnotic stream-of-consciousness that allows a writer to get lost in a passionate moment of creation (without worrying about productivity & output), its lack of proof-reading programming allows for a totally relaxed writing experience that can leave editing for another draft entirely, among many other things. I could go on for hours, honestly. Wordpad is my favorite computer program of all time, and I am genuinely surprised more people aren't outraged that it was so carelessly erased from existence. I did cave and use Word for about a week, before it was further sprung upon me (via a pop-up window while writing), that I must install/verify the full version of office 365 or I cannot continue to use Word. It allowed me to continue prompting documents to open using the software (which was the only available word processor on my PC currently), but they were available in a read-only format, and I could no longer write any additional content, or edit anything written prior to the incident. This absolutely appalled me, and made me search for a 3rd party Wordpad remake online until I found one that worked for me. I don't recommend everyone download random apps off the internet, but I would genuinely rather risk a virus to my hardware than bow to the absolutely disgusting monopoly that Windows has become with this most recent update. This streamlined, consolidated approach to "apps" for the modern computer is why I stay away from Apple products. I have always hated how closed off Apple was from open source content creators, and how you must always have the Apple approved "MacOs version" directly from the Apple app store, to run any type of program. Windows was always very appealing to me for its allowance in consumers running virtually any software that is compatible with your PC, which can be official/licensed or free-use, floating around on the world wide web. However, in doing things like eliminating Paint and Wordpad, Windows has pushed me to my absolute limit. I would never get another Mac, but if something doesn't change, I'll make the switch to Linux once and for all. The only thing tethering me to my Windows PC at this point is my gaming repertoire of digital game software and all of their DLC that are designed for a Windows computer. I had always said if Linux were more widely supported, I would have made the switch a long time ago. However, with how open sourced Linux functions - with quite literally hundreds of various word processors at your disposal, right from reputable programmers, for example - I truly believe the (currently) unsupported by mainstream software issue is worth it. I might have to sacrifice some of my favorite Steam games for awhile, but to have the almost socialist market community that Linux users share, for all the basic software someone could ever need, I'm tempted. I think that Windows is tip-toeing dangerously close to Apple-esque territory by enforcing this removal of my beloved program, and expecting people to transition seamlessly to Microsoft Word without a complaint. I understand the marketing ploy, but I think it's disgusting and shallow, especially by teasing with a free trial, with little to no explanation. Limiting PC users to Notepad as a medium of text document generation, should they not be interested in getting Office 365 (as I am not), seems very miserly and cold of Windows to me. I have honestly lost all faith in Windows for this. Some might say I am being dramatic about a word processor, but it is the principle: a 30yr old program, which was being currently utilized on people's personal, private devices, which they own in their home, was stolen and carelessly destroyed in minutes, without their consent or any formal warning,  as if it were never there. What precedent does this set, that an OS should be able to access any of  our previously owned files and wipe them without permission? Why do we act like this is normal? It would be one thing to discontinue producing later versions of the software on new devices; that, I could understand and swallow. It is an entirely different beast, in my opinion, to erase ANY program, especially my most utilized, off of my personal device, without permission. People have a hard time, it seems (including myself), wrapping their heads around digital ownership. Understandably so; as something not perfectly tangible, like a computer program, leaves a lot up in the air about what is actually in your possession. If you bought a physical DvD of a film, you would believe that you own that movie, and you could watch it anytime you want. If they stopped producing those disks, you would still have the item you originally paid for. The only way it would be lost media, is if it was broken physically, or if police showed up and confiscated it as contraband. This is how it felt to me when Wordpad became obsolete suddenly. I owned it, as a file on my device, and someone physically wiped it from my possession as if it was never mine to begin with. I do understand why and how this technically transpired, but I don't understand why people are taking it so nonchalantly. I firmly believe it is morally wrong and absolutely corrupt of Windows to have pursued this course of action. I believe (although they probably had fine print I agreed to that protects them legally) they morally had no right to interfere with my files. I wouldn't want Microsoft viewing all the content on my computer casually, on a whim, let alone uninstalling entire programs. I think this is a dangerous behavior to be comfortable with from an operating system, due to the nature of its potential to be misused for any purpose,  and could potentially lead to a world of spoon-fed, 1984 type sheep people that eventually won't even have the illusion of choice that we used to have; for maybe all software, & hardware alike, will just be a universal unit - Big Brother in the 21st century. He's already been watching. Now, it's getting real. The threat of how much loss we would experience, as a collective of computer users, if something like... Steam was to suddenly shut down or something with no warning, should perhaps be eye opening enough to inspire your natural born right to defend your stolen property - Wordpad (& Paint)! The lawsuits that would ensue if we lost all our video games in an instant would be insurmountable. Why should future writers all across the globe have to henceforth face a PC experience that renders expression/exploration of language arts in any substantial format, as a privilege and not a right for all? Wordpad was the great equalizer. Without it, if you're not willing to succumb to the game Microsoft is playing, be quiet, and move onto the next platform without any questions, your art will remain undiscovered. This art form - writing/typing, is at risk of being lost to oblivion, or at least that of the rebels who refuse to conform. I stand with Wordpad. I believe in digital ownership rights, and the sanctity of the truly free market. I will not use Microsoft Word for as long as I live, despite the actions already taken against my poor demographic. I will not be beaten into submission. Today, it's "just a word processor;" tomorrow, it might be your life. I am not afraid. I will lead the revolution. I hope I am not alone.