New
#11
This is my theory on the lower number of Insider installs we're seeing. In the beginning one didn't need a qualifying OS to download, install and activate a Insider build. Many saw this as a opportunity to acquire a free OS on a new computer that never had a OS installed. Such as a custom built computer. At first MS saw the number of installs and was pleased. Then when the time was right the users(misusers) dropped out of the Insider Program and converted to a free RTM version of Windows 10 Pro. The never intended to participate and only wanted a free OS. Then when MS realized how many user were abusing the free Insider builds they changed it to were you need a qualifying OS to activate a new Insider build. Between that, the number of users who found being a Insider nothing but a headache and the number of users not willing to use their purchased keys to become a new Insider, the number of Insiders has dropped. I like being a Insider but realize there are risk. That's why I dual boot and make backups. I may complain at times about bugs in my Insider install but it's only to help me release some of my aggravation. It does bother me when so many bugs get released in the RTM builds. A few I can understand but not the volume that are being reported. One example of a minor bug that got released in the AU and makes no sense is the disappearance of the account startup photo when the Windows 10 AU was released. It was there before AU release so what did MS do to break it? IMHO MS decided to make some last minute changes to the AU and didn't thoroughly test them first.
Edit: Forgot to add. MS needs to learn that Insiders are the ones who volunteers to test the latest and greatest but the average user who paid one way or another for their copy of Windows 10 just wants a computer that works and don't want to be used as a beta tester.