[pton_xd]

I don't think I've ever heard emacs described as "batteries included" -- maybe more like "batteries available." If anything it has the opposite reputation, that doing anything requires extensive and continual config adjustments, which isn't accurate either.

There are plenty of emacs "starter kits" that do aim to provide more of a batteries included experience. My favorite is doom, it's worth checking out and does setup all the features you mention.

Pointing new users at those more advanced default configs as an option would be pretty helpful, I think.

[billfruit]

But many features, even obscure ones are packaged by default in modern emacs, including I think a pdf viewer.

[binary132]

Tbh even though I got my start with Emacs Live I really do think at this point the simplest way to get started is to start vanilla and stay as vanilla as possible as you slowly build up your config based on simple and straightforward examples. The main problem is the utter lack of such examples in the community. I had to figure it out for myself for the most part. KISS!