If you're moving away from Windows, why not go all the way and install Manjaro or something? Snaps are meant to emulate the Windows ease of use, including the automatic behavior that you dislike (but many users like).

> When will these system designers realize that the system shouldn't do anything observable without me telling it to?

My vehicle changes gears without asking me. If someone makes a broad statement like "when are these vehicle designers going to realize that a vehicle shouldn't do anything observable without me telling it to?" I'm just going to laugh at them.