This is exactly the point why I left Google Chrome back then and considered FF as a good alternative. I didn't trust Google anymore. But now I face the same problem again, because I don't want these "features and trusted partners". I also don't want to have to justify over and over again why I don't want them. I just want a well-functioning and secure browser that people can trust.
If I seriously want to learn something, then only from books. Videos or the Internet distract me too much. I sort my notes into a Zettelkasten system and once a month I write an essay of min. 15 pages to deepen the knowledge. I turn off Internet, music and phone because I don't want to be distracted.
If you know someone who knows a bit about technology, I would suggest a solution with a Raspberry Pi. There are quite a few tutorials if you search for "raspberry pi ring doorbell" in a search engine. I've picked out an exemplary article for you.
I use the software W10Privacy[1] to change my settings from all the nagging implemetrations. With it, you can (not) completely uninstall Edge, but restrict it so much that it no longer bothers you.
This can also be used to display the internet advertisements, the "important" notices and other hints with which Windows wants to promote its not-so-good products.
I don't like that and I don't like it when I'm voted down, especially when, for example (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27304811), I can't understand why the down vote was set on this point. This arbitrariness leaves me with a strong negative feeling, which is then also transferred to other down votes, even if they were justified.
I've been with Neocities for about two years and I'm very happy. Even though free hosters have a generally bad reputation, I like the community and the pleasant environment. I have written a note [1] about this that describes my experiences in more detail.
