I don't see that much of a problem here
The things you mention ...
Verifying your Product ID on MS to gain access to customer content - whats wrong about that ... I mean any online game does this by checking your serial - does anyone complain here? And when it comes to protection of their product ... its all software and can be uninstalled completely - have a look at Adobe Photoshop where the protection actually does modify your harddrive to stray even if you format your drive ... do ppl. blame them like they blame MS ?
MS Mediaplayer licensing - I don't like that thing, too
But whats the solution to this? Do not use it! You are asked during setup if you want to aquire license automatically or not. Just avoid content using this kind of protection.
And the last point you mention is TCPA right? http://www.againsttcpa.com/
AFAIK its not included within Vista and AFAIK you need a chip placed on your matherboard to make things work - and its OUR job NOT to buy such hardware
its just like the sony XPC thing users have to rebel against such things - in its most simple form - Do not support it buy buying such products

I am pretty suche I am going for Vista
If the improvement is like going from non-XP to XP its gona be awesome.

We know about TCPA and Palladium.
We have seen the signs in Windows Media Player.
We know Microsoft's attitude regarding privacy.

Yet you feel completely safe letting their latest software completely take control over your computer and everything you do?

I do not know what is taking control over my PC
sure I am against TCPA
but in my opinion MS does handle privacy very good
I mean there was that huge outcry when XP was introduce with its activation and hundreds of tech freaks tried to prove MS is transfering sensitive data - but all failed
If MS would really spy on you they could send one half of all windows user to jail for using an illegal copy
Even with SP1/SP2 introduced key checks you are only notified that your key is not legal - millions of users do use the FCKGW-..... key. You could visit them all and find an illegal copy of XP
But non of these things happens

I am absolutely sure that MS does not steal any private data from me
and as you said - without firewall and AV I feel very safe when I am connected to the Internet which is nearly all the time.

I like MS products and unless they start using something like TCPA or try to modify my computers hardware in a way you can not remove it without any trouble - I am going to use MS products again

I am not anti-microsoft and I do not plan to move to apple or linux anytime soon. I enjoy the simplicity, without extra hassle to find and install what I want and need.

I believe Microsoft already have a good insight on how many run pirated windows, but the costs of going to court in each individual case is probably not worth it.

But I am worried to run an operating system built by the same people who started the whole TCPA idea. Now when I know their attitudes and their plans, I feel less secure. While Microsoft themselves might not be interested to harass each individual, I know many less subtile companies/organisations that do not hesitate. If Vista do make it easy for someone to access my harddrive it's ofcourse alot easier to just dump a filelist of my mp3 folder and go to court (I assume that everybody here have one and enjoy listening to music).

This time it's not a started program we are talking about. This time its the operating system itself. You do not actually need special hardware if you agree to let everything you do be started from a big brother system (if that's the case).

Ohwell... I'll see what happens.