Microsoft 365 Apps SHOULD NOT overwrite Office 2019/2021 one-time retail installs

I've noticed this behaviour is directly related to the Update Branch. Any retail copy of Office, say for example: Office Standard 2019/2021/2024 is using the Current, Enterprise, Preview, or Beta Channel. It seems these update channels are being used to force upgrade the desktop applications. The easiest tell currently is the desktop icons changing to the new "fluent" design ones.

This behaviour is not present when using say Office Standard 2019/2021/2024 LTSC on the Office 2019/2021/2024 Perpetual Enterprise Channel. But these versions are only available to Volume License Customers so small offices with only a few machines have no control it seems.

A customer that has purchased a retail copy to avoid new cloud/design features not needed in a private enterprise should not be unilaterally upgraded. Can't say I'm surprised by this one. One more co-pilot button for every forced "feature upgrade".