Average Linux user: “we could just use the Windows totally-not-an-emulator!”.

(They’re this close to getting the point while saying it.)

I’m far away. What is the point?

The point is: If “just simulate a Windows environment” is the best thing you could come up with, chances are that Windows is what you should use anyway.

I’d rather simulate some Windows function calls on a system I control than install Windows and give up all control over my system to a foreign corporation.

You give up all control over your system to other US corporations though, like Red Hat (who are - and should be held, IMO - responsible for systemd) and Microsoft (who contribute quite some code to the kernel). The only system you control is a system you write, I’m afraid.