I’m not interested in having an argument about windows vs mac, but I want to point something out which I think is important (and I apologise for taking this a little bit off-topic)
Code signing, which is I guess partly what you are referring to with “closed kindergarten”, is really important. It lets you, the user, verify that the code that you are about to run on your machine was actually produced by the person that you think it was, and that it hasn’t been modified.
MacOS has been doing this for years, and recently it has started enforcing extra rules for kernel modules, which are extremely important parts of the OS. You don’t see those bits of code running. So Apple wants you do be aware of the fact that kernel modules are being added, and wants you to sign off that you’re the one who is installing it.
Windows does this too. Windows 8 made a mess of it, but Windows 10 no longer permits you to install kernel modules that are not signed by the developer. This has also caused issues with older Windows drivers.
There are improvements that developers can (and must) make to their installers which make the process less painful.
I strongly advise against disabling code signature checking in your OS. You get no advantage from doing it, and you put your system at risk. All it takes is a single intercepted http:// download, and you’re running code from who knows where?
If you’re interested in learning more about it, the wikipedia page on binary signing is pretty good. Also read about “MITM” attacks; code signing and https:// can help prevent those.
(The other part of the “closed kindergarten” you describe is maybe the App Store; that’s another world of discussion. Rest assured, you’re not required to install stuff from the App Store, although doing so will give you better security (read up on application sandboxing in MacOS, for example))
OK I stop ranting now PLUR etc xx <3