He hasn't put them into the Public Domain. They can be "considered" as though they are. They are "effectively" in the Public Domain. But, they aren't actually there, which means that someone can come along and change or revoke this licence at some point in the future, because the copyrights remain with him, and will be with his estate after he dies (long may that be delayed!).

Would the laptop be wiped and then re-imaged by the thief anyway? Wouldn't this device actually *help* the thief?

My proposal from August 2018, developing on an idea from February 2016.
I don't suppose that they got the idea from me, but it surprises me that it has taken this long to consider doing it this way.

Spot on.
Microsoft could prove the value of the programme if it implemented something like the the Reproducible Builds project by Debian: https://wiki.debian.org/Reprod...
'Course, that would probably be an openness too far for them...

It has been well established for many years now that both learning and using "cursive" writing (I know it as "joined" writing) is important for the development of young brains.

For example: http://davidsortino.blogs.pres...

This is irresponsible marketing, and with continuing cuts in education, stands a very good chance of not being challenged by educators before politicians base policy on it.

How many times have you contacted news and commentary organisations to correct their description of you as a patent lawyer? How often have they made the correction?

Not wholly Open Source, but have a look at COSE from Staffordshire University. They plan a FOSS release in the future.

Éibhear