OneDrive repeatedly misguiding users

MrElusive,

OneDrive is completely optional, and there is nothing hidden. For paranoid individuals, or those who are into tin foil hats, or think stallman.org is news, they are free to not use it.
There is extensive documentation for the average user and for the more tech-savvy. It's not iCloud; OneDrive has features, and it won't show you a modal dialog every x days, saying they changed their data collection policy, where you may click "OK" or throw the device out the window.

There is nothing so complicated about it. First of all, you're asked whether you'd like to use it during the OOBE.

Back up and restore with Windows Backup - Microsoft Support Here are videos that are way clearer than long explanations. Everywhere there are links to similar help pages... and it also lists which settings exactly will be synced if you choose to back them up. 

I remember my 2nd Windows phone, with 3G and 10 minutes; I had all my settings restored and apps loading, and 15 years ago, it was neat; it's very common to save preferences, etc., except here you still are free not to use this; but this is a part of what is making the experience so nice; the average user will be super happy to find everything back like on their previous PC... Using that or not is really about bias and beliefs... nothing else. Then for files, I'd say it is the same, but it can be tweaked easily.

Please read the doc and then defame the product.

So you can opt out and never have the pleasure to use that great service (it's 18 years old; I never had to worry about my data since, but burn it on a DVD-RW? Use an external HDD 🫠, enjoy Google services, or use Aloha and sync it on a nearby island.

It is possible to uninstall OneDrive too, like any other app...

For the desktop, I agree; I didn't like it, especially syncing shortcuts... it makes no sense. It's clumsy, not evil. It has improved; I leave it on, and I don't think it will enable itself. The Downloads folder is also not synced... But you have complete control over all of that...

If you are using it, you may right-click on the OneDrive folder in the user folder or the "special" OneDrive entry and select Settings (or use the OneDrive icon in the systray). You may also right-click on any file, and in the legacy context menu, you can also access OneDrive settings. I discovered that in the address bar, left-click on OneDrive and you have a small UI with some more info and links to the settings. 
On recent builds of Win 11 (sorry, I have canary builds, but this should be there already), you can go to Settings->Accounts->Backup, and all is conveniently available in one screen, half of it being links that explain exactly how to use it.

Documents and pictures can be enabled or disabled, and like it is the case since Vista, (?) you can change the location of those known folders. 

For versioning, I thought OneDrive would be using VSS, Volume Shadow Copy too (it did at some point when backup was first added to Cannary); it's like Time Machine, but years in advance, of course. You can browse the version in Explorer. Sadly, it never was made into an application usable by everyone.

The backup locations are unknown... it uses oblivious HTTP-backed technology. Storage devices commonly store data, ranging from tapes to PCIe 5.0 NVMe, and even DNA (though not in this particular case). One day, graphene will also be used for data storage. It's stored on a cloud. 😉 There are other ways to do a local backup or version files with File History or Win7 Backup...

There is also VSS, Volume Shadow Copy, since Windows Server 2003 (and some weaker forms in XP). It

Those mythical Edge nag screens and other ads, I literally never had one. Edge even blocks Microsoft extensions:

On Android, AdBlock has been integrated for years and remains independent. It blocks MS Ads too. Moreover, it offers a plethora of features unavailable in other browsers and allows you to secure your privacy by locking down everything, but websites won't work so well. And it's not using free Javascript.

What I do have is a popup on every Google site telling me to use Chrome. And for the sake of history, Chrome was bundled with Flash, Acrobat, and many other apps and would "ask" the users to install on every Google-hosted page it. It was pure adware.

Now everyone is free to use what they like, and people like Edge in general. So if there is intrusive nagging, I understand the frustration, but the competition either forbids any competitors or is worse... 

I will skip the Windows Update part... Chicago did not have even an embryo of Windows updates, for info. It's 32 bits, so today's apps might probably run, but NT 3.51 coupled with Mosaic is very usable.

About incorrect procedures, I guess it's been clarified.