In my experience if Windows decides it doesn’t want to talk to your hardware because of some undecipherable 20 year old spaghetticode reason, You’ve no recourse except reinstalling Windows and it might suddenly work. At least with Linux you can debug and get things working

Using Linux with obscure hardware (CNC mills, chromatographs, etc) is a bit like punching yourself in the nuts, but still free.

It was never about cost for me. It’s always been about freedom. And the harm and exploitation of the capitalist system.

Punching yourself in the face is only free if you can afford the medical bills.