Stupid Microsoft?

Not really. If they were to override all current machine settings utter havoc would result and people - ordinary people mind you, not folks like us who know what's going on - would not download SP2 out of fear that it would "break" their machines and home networks. Which, in spite of the issues w/SP2, is not a good situation at all. Keep in mind that SP2 is really a fix for the standard user, and in that context delivers tools that most users do not have and that will help stop home and SOHO machines from being taken over; and that's a very good thing.

Todd