I already mentioned I thought it was a bullstuff tactic, but anyway...
I'm not particularly technical but they sure made it sound like it was basically new software and a desktop skin for your PC.
The majority of the userbase isn't technical, and so Microsoft has a hard sell right there. By convincing people that the process is painless, easy and will benefit them, they can start to conquer a lot of the fears by the average user that a "new Operating System installation" might generate.
Under the hood, however, there's quite a lot different from Windows 8, especially in how Microsoft is trying to shed a lot of the weight from its past, which involves straight-up removing functionality that older hardware/software relied on (not because it was right, but because the developers didn't know better).
I got no indication that an advanced PC even COULD be incompatible with Win10
Because it's very hard to judge what might/might not work, and Microsoft don't want people to fear else they wouldn't upgrade (it's a bit weird they don't do more aggressive safe checking however). In your PC, you've got many little systems (as far as hardware components, drivers, programs, services etc) all trying to cooperate and use the same pool of resources together. The simple fact of the matter is that NO computer will ever be future-proof, as future decisions will have great impact on how things need to work and respond to the rest of the whole system.
It's not ASUS's responsibility to keep their drivers updated (though it would be nice),
As a manufacturer, ASUS makes the choice on compatibility. While they may not have a legal responsibility to be held to, one must believe that a high profile computer manufacturer with a very large reputation and consumer-base to uphold would have made steps even before Windows 10 initially released to try and work on compatibility.
Going back in history, IBM (IIRC) is rather famous for pissing off Microsoft and missing out on bundling Windows 95/98 with their newest computers. These large-scale manufacturers are always in talks with each other because those who sell the computers want to produce the NEWEST, BEST machines and Microsoft wants to push their new product.
it's Microsoft's responsibility not to force PC-breaking updates onto people who have no idea they can't run them.
Again, Microsoft didn't intend for the installation process to fail, and even you must admit that you are a rare case compared to the large number of people successfully using the system or who downgraded without issues. While the practice of forcing the update is bullstuff, Microsoft has nothing to do with your hardware setup which they do not control
by design so as to not be as locked down as Apple. Microsoft are under the assumption that if you PC meets the basic specifications they set out, it must have compatibility.
An update --by definition-- makes something better.
In my opinion (and this an opinion shared by many), Windows 10 is a much better operating system.
And no, an update does not "make something better" by definition. That is (hopefully) the intention. A (software) update represents nothing more than a change in the design and functionality of something.
