"So a few months ago I started writing a perl script
mk-boot-usb that slightly simplifies creating bootable usb sticks
and greatly simplifies cloning usb sticks it creates. Putting an
entire OS plus many apps on a usb stick is certainly not a
technical challenge for Microsoft, but it's something that
Microsoft would hate to do. They will simply refuse to compete on
this front unless they drastically change their business strategy
or even business model. This can be a nice example of the
"difference strategy"."