Office Starter 2010 was not a GIFT from Microsoft. Microsoft Office 2010 starter was supported by
paid ad revenue -- sponsors paid Microsoft to endorse their products on the software. And, as you say, I paid for it when I made the initial PC purchase. Sure, the product has been discontinued as factory-installed software
but this doesn't alter the fact that millions of users still rely on the software we bought. And millions of us don't deserved to be robbed of its utility--even if it has issues Microsoft is well aware of.
I don't need the full Office package-- the Starter is just fine for my needs. When I bought my desktop 3 years ago my purchased Office 2003 disc was not compatible. On my laptop, which is win 8.1, I downloaded Open Office, which I don't particularly like.
I must admit that when my PC developed problems after falling for the fake update I considered purchasing a $99 subscription for the year--but I knew I could get the Starter back for FREEif I was just patient enough to withstand the nuisance of bringing the factory-settings up to current standards and removing all the bloatware. The one advantage to complete restoration is that a lot of the unnecessary files that accumulate are removed.
I was fortunate to have the laptop to use while all this was going on.
I don't know who is behind the fake update so I can't say if Microsoft is deliberately sabotaging its customers -- just don't fall for the fake pop-up. Obviously someone knows who has the Starter installed and these users are targeted specifically--who
they are and what their purpose is, I am unable to say.