Win XP was peak computing for the masses, and most didn’t have a clue!
A mature Windows 7 wasn't terrible. You could easily configure it so that it stayed out of your way, and only the updates were a headache. Windows 8 and those beyond were all downright atrocious. While I had dabbled in Linux for years before then, announcing Win7 EOL finally pushed me 100% into the Linux camp.
I preferred 2000, but admit that didn't make it to the masses.