[bschwindHN]

> you log into the machine, download files, load files onto the program. that doesn't need a desktop environment?

Believe it or not, it doesn't! An embedded device with a form of flash storage and an internet connection to a (hopefully) LAN-only server can do the same thing.

> you want to reimplement half of one, poorly

Who says I would do it poorly? ;)

> and a worse customer experience?

Why would a purpose-built system be a worse customer experience than _windows_? Are you really going to set the bar that low?