in 2017 i bought win10pro from the ms store online for my vidya pc. shipping it damaged the board, replaced the board in 2018, it never reactivated properly so i just used it unactivated. reinstalling today, digital copies don't have product keys. support won't issue me a new one without a proof of purchase of the new motherboard.
all this to just get me to drop another $199 to coerce me into not wasting 2+ hours of my life to get this spyware running without nagware.
52 mins on the phone, got a case number but apparently the "tools are being upgraded" and they can't issue me a new product code right now, but they'll email me a link to a box to enter a special security code to get my new product code once they're working.
that special security code can't be emailed, so once i get the email, i have to call back and wait another hour on hold. cool.