User (and process) permissions are not a "bandwagon" thing - they are a fundamental part of any proper multi-user system.

VAX/VMS enthusiasts always used to claim superiority over the security of UNIX...

It's exactly the same with the direct hardware access thing: no proper multi-tasking (let alone multi-user) system can afford to allow applications unfettered direct access to the hardware!!


As already noted, MS started off with single-user, single-task, non-networked stuff; so they have a hard job trying to bolt-on "security" to something that was never really designed for it - because it never really needed it!