Linux can handle it fine but some hardware manufacturers don't disclose their methods.

The US government has made it quite clear they'll not hesitate invading this long-time ally (The Netherlands) to 'free' one of their subjects would he/she be put before the court.

In other words, keep the candle under the needle while soldering.

You failed at being useful :)

The fact they now have releases with new names coming out every few years doesn't mean that's the norm and we should all follow.

Although I agree WinXP is compared to Win7 past its use-by date it is still the only Windows product running well on older systems.

Running a (near) desktop monopoly comes with certain duties and MS is tired of them.

Judging by news about a similar failure to timely update by Dutch government branches MS will have included a little gem in this contract, you get it so 'cheap' because a forced upgrade to Win7/8 is part of the deal.

They (MS) won't allow you to cancel the contracts and go with a non-lock in provider.

The Dutch government did something rather strange, they said they had to 'study' this rule and would come back on it in 8 weeks.

At virtually the same time they followed a ruling of the court banning the downloading of illegal copies on the same day.

Up until this ruling Dutch law made uploading illegal but had no block on downloading, similar to our laws that not just protect freedom of speech but especially protect freedom of information.
Or another example, trade in illegal drugs is strictly forbidden, the consumption is explicitly allowed.

What is it that these MAFIAA organisations get their way?

See, that's why you need government at a larger scale, to prevent locals pushing their shit on others.

We differ of opinion, WinXP is a brand name like the Toyota Corolla, build since 1966 till now.

This runs contrary to the parliament's wish to use open standards for file exchange with the population.

I'd be surprised similar abject rules aren't in the UK deal...

You need to check in on-line, less than 24 hrs. before the flight and in return you get a mail with a QR code.
At the airport you just show your phone displaying the code, both at immigration, at security and at boarding.

Also realise there is no Immigration between the EU Schengen countries.

For the rest your arguments, especially in the second sentence, are bollocks.