Windows RTMs used to be shipped in a usable state (albeit buggy) for more than a decade. You installed it from a CD and it worked fine, you installed patches every once in a while from a random Service Pack CD you got from somewhere.
Modern Windows has had the habit of being so buggy after release in such horrendous ways that I can't imagine being able to use the same install CD for years. This is definitely putting less attention to detail in my view.
Windows RTMs used to be shipped in a usable state (albeit buggy) for more than a decade. You installed it from a CD and it worked fine, you installed patches every once in a while from a random Service Pack CD you got from somewhere.
Modern Windows has had the habit of being so buggy after release in such horrendous ways that I can't imagine being able to use the same install CD for years. This is definitely putting less attention to detail in my view.