Neat. Windows PE might reduce even more the requirements, but it wont be a "full featured" windows install. How much components have you removed? Windows store + defender + cortana sounds too little of components to have that result.
removed any windows store / defender / removed optionnal driver like print driver - modem driver / cash driver .. disabled windows telemetry , resetbase windows with dism++
What pros will have a working WU on a not supported 5 year old OS have (which will be small by itself and when done on a 10420 ISO it would already even be smaller)?
because intel vmd 19x are compatible with 1703 ( machine use was windows to go in vhdx ) to convert windows 10 or 11 home to pro on insane computer laptop , without upgrade computer using iso
first step boot windows 10 1703 on computer locked with windows home ( because for a little computer disable network card and generic pro key not works ! ) on 1703 desktop ( portable windows to go ), serialize with HWiD shutdown , boot windows 10 or 11 home past generic windows 10/11 key , upgrade unlocked
One pro for sure is that dedup from 1703 is forward compatible with the recent flavors (even from w11) while 2015/16 are not.
And what? I provided a valuable info, if you have no idea of what dedup is, or just don't care/don't use it, feel free to ignore that piece of knowledge.
And as in and what has this to do with the advantage of being able to have a working WU on a build that is no longer getting updates and is no longer supported.
Do a favor yourself, stop to parrot premade sentences, and believe to them blindly. There are hundreds of cases where a dual boot compatibility or a compatibility with a legacy HW is way more important than stupid update from WU. Who knows what he is doing couldn't care less of the latest update, I got my first computer in 1982 and since then I always used literally anything for desktop and mobile, updated or not, and I have yet to catch a single malware, I have yet to see a single breach on my personal devices or on devices I manage for my clients. MY current PC is a multiple boot device where I use practically everything in multiple boot from Ubuntu 10.04 and Win2000 to the latest Server 11 build. Staying safe is more matter of common sense and skill WAY more than trusting and accepting blindly whatever MS/Apple/Google/Whatever are pushing on your device.
Hence the question, he made a point of a working WU and i asked why would that be needed for a build that never will get new updates and next you have to respond with the usual nonsense.
Nonsense is different from something you don't understand. Be sure I'm not going to start an endless string of arguments to try to explain something to someone who has a different idea sculpted in stone. Thanks god the world is plenty of people who like to understand how things are working, and try to get the best from whatever they have, even a 15 year old OS or a 50 year old car. P.S. Speaking of being old... 1703 received the last official update in March 2021, so actually it is a ONE year old OS, NOT a five year old one. If you can't agree with me, at least try to be honest with other readers, instead of making false claims just to make your point stronger. Have a good evening.