Re:They've been doing this since 2002 in a way (Score 1)

If you install WinXP Volume licenced edition with the famous FCKGW RHQQ2 (Genius!) serial number then install IE critical updates from Windowsupdate, the computer will start crashing on an occasional basis

Not true. That serial (released with a pirated version of XP that apparently came out before the official release) was disabled when SP1 came out. I have ... a friend who was using that serial, and sure enough, SP1 refused to recognize it. Check here for a short article on the topic.