The Thinkpads I buy run Linux. Except of course I pay the Microsoft tax and Lenovo never knows that they actually sold a Linux laptop not a Windows laptop. I use the Windows for configuring BIOS fingerprint access and in the olden days playing the occasional game.
Did you ever succeed in getting your Windows tax back in case when you don't need Windows? Lenovo's refusal to provide such option is actually illegal. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_refund
The legality varies by country. In general they just say that they are selling the system and software as a whole so you can return everything for a refund. In any event it is too late now.
However I'm interested if anyone actually succeeded in proving it in some small claims court. There are legal precedents of victories against tying policies of Lenovo and the like in Europe, but I didn't find any similar examples in US.
It is a lot harder in the US and too late for me anyway. They'll offer to take the whole system back, not just parts. (In the same way you can't get a refund for the headrests in a car if you don't want them.)
But the same computer can be used with other OS, and denying such option is anti-competitive product tying which falls under antitrust regulations. I agree however that it'll require a precedent to have a solid base for this.
