On Windows, you don't always need a 3rd party FTP program. Windows Explorer (not IE) already does FTP. Just open any folder and type ftp://example.com into the path bar.
It doesn't come standard, not on all Windows flavours. It's a part of "Core networking utilities" package that used to have some really odd dependencies.
You're mis-remembering or something... There's no such thing as a "Core Networking Utilities" package on Windows (never has been) and ftp has been a command line tool since at least Windows 95.
I don't particularly like the built in FTP command line utility (even with scripts). But it has existed a very long time indeed.
Eh, yes, it is. On the Windows 7 Home Basic and Home Premium edition, it’s not pre-installed, and you have to go to System Settings -> Programs and Features -> Install or Remove Features to install it.
I have Windows 7 Home Premium on my Mac via Parallels, and just I just typed in "ftp" into cmd and it came straight up.
The only packages I have installed are "Media Features" ".Net Framework 3.5.1" "Print and Document Services" "Windows Gadget Platform" "Windows Search" and XPS Services/Viewer. All of which are default features.
Which package are you even suggesting contains the ftp.exe client? Because I don't even see one. Also why would anyone go to the trouble of putting a 47 Kb binary inside of a feature package? It makes absolutely no sense at all.
It does not support passive mode No queue No SFTP No FXP