Actually, I’m not sure this is a good idea. I welcome being able to make IE a removable program and Microsoft should be pushing out updates as quickly as possible to users, but every other OS ships with a default browser. I guess it comes down to how good their install mechanism is.
Oh yeah, and it’s worth noting this quote:
Computer manufacturers will be able to add any browser they want to their Windows 7 machines, including Internet Explorer, so European consumers who purchase new PCs will be able to access the Internet without any problem.
Chances of manufacturers shipping a computer without a browser? 0.
It's not supposed to be a good idea. It's Microsoft trying to make the EU regulators look stupid. They will take the blame for this despite them preferring to have competing browsers available from a first run menu.
Microsoft clearly believes that a simple choice would be bad for them so they're making it so that a) the consumer who buys an OS has to go out and get a browser, and they're hoping Internet Explorer will get greater share than otherwise, and more importantly b) the OEMs will, in the main, install IE and only IE which has much more effect as that is how 95% of people get their OS, with a new machine purchase.
Oh yeah, and it’s worth noting this quote:
Computer manufacturers will be able to add any browser they want to their Windows 7 machines, including Internet Explorer, so European consumers who purchase new PCs will be able to access the Internet without any problem.
Chances of manufacturers shipping a computer without a browser? 0.