It was a default for so long that people just got used to the feel of it and its "ecosystem" if you can call it that.
I use Win at home and at work as my main desktop, because of familiarity, the apps I got used to and because I just don't feel comfortable with any Linux UI. I get annoyed when the Win UI gets even slightly changed between OS versions, so imagine how it would be for me just switching to Linux. I have a dual boot, but the Linux partitions always gather dust no matter the distro.
But I wouldn't touch a Windows server. I'm apt with the Linux on work servers, my home server, RaspberryPi and routers. It feeels like having swiss army knives and I feel at home in a command line.
This doesn't make me a fanboy, but I do get raised eyebrows from co-workers.
Unique style paintings will become even more valuable in the future. Generative AI only spews "art" based on previous styles it learned / was trained on. Everything will be even more rehashed than it is today (nod to Everything is a Remix). Having a painting made by an actual human hand on your wall will be more ego-boosting than an AI generated one.
Sure, for general digital art (ie logos, game character design, etc) when uniqueness isn't really mandatory, AI is a good, very cheap tool.
As for the "everyone becomes a programmer" part... naah.
Generally, you aren't allowed by law an official managing position without a college degree, that's true. But that would reflect on the job title, not pay or benefits. In my company, if you're good, you'll be acknowledged.
Depends on the field. For example, in IT, competence can be tested. Especially when a large percent of job positions aren't filled with people that got a degree in that field. I have dev colleagues with psychology degrees and whatnot and one that only finished highschool, that are better programmers than others I know that do have an IT college degree. Good programmers are hard to come by, and the main aspect that makes you one isn't a college degree at all.