Quote - Sorry, I think you are mistaken.  Consumers are receiving extended support (security updates).  I know I am.  

I think you may be confusing their hardware (Xbox etc.) with the OS.  (Consumer, Hardware, and Multimedia products).

 

Here is the link for Windows XP.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle

 

Windows XP became a special case because the new Netbooks could not run the bloated Windows Vista.  (Several very large computer companies demanded the extended support). 

Support for the current, and previous versions of software has been the industry standard for over 40 years!

Nope, being a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), I'm not. Those updates are courtesy as a result of the Extended Support to corporations. If that support wasn't in place, you wouldn't get the updates. Because those corporations have employees that may use their own personal machines to access corporate resources is why the updates are streamed to everyone. Also there is no mechanism to restrict those updates to computers... however, if you  (as a consumer, not paid corporate support) try to call Microsoft support to try to create a ticket, you're going to be told that Windows XP is not supported and hang up on you. Another avenue would be through the company you bought your computer from, for instance Dell. If you have extended support though that company, they may also handle support and pass tickets directly to microsoft on your behalf.  Most consumers at best can purchase a 2-3 year extended support when they purchase a machine, but most likely those plans have run out long ago in the case of windows XP and should be ending with Vista.