I think windows developers need to do a better job of knowing when to use static libraries. Common OS stuff should be just fine to link dynamically against, but common, frequently updated third party DLL's should maybe be static. However I have to agree with you, to hell with the harddrive, just bundle it all up in one package, like the way Mac OS does it (and others).

Didn't the EU take them to court for that?

If there was money in it they would have upgraded you a long time ago. Their not _that_ stuppid. I understand your pain though, as I grew up in subdivisions. However, I now live in the city and I now see subdivisions as a horible mistake causing unneeded trafic and distribution problems. People should live near the services where its cheeper to deliver them, not speed out over as far as possible range. You implicitly made the choice to live with less by living inside the city.