[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

Also true of literally every OS, on the inherited wisdom that separating the config from the actual application allows it to persist through upgrades and reinstalls easily.

There are certainly other ways to do that, but this is how it has been done since forever.

[user3939382]

Windows uninstall isn't guaranteed* to be perfect but it's much better in this regard. It's common on Windows to have uninstaller apps that go around cleaning up the crumbs of the application. The equivalent on macOS isn't unheardof but it's rare.

[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

I assure you that the vast majority of Windows software leaves config files and registry entries behind when uninstalled.

[thunderbong]

A proper uninstaller actually gives even this as an option though

[forgotpwd16]

>It's common on Windows to have uninstaller apps that go around cleaning up the crumbs of the application.

In my experience what is common will be the inverse of that. And leaving config files spread throughout the system is one thing. Sometimes the uninstaller doesn't even remove the Program Files directory leaving it behind with cache, tmp files, etc. (Things that shouldn't even be there in first place but anyway.)