On a distro like ubuntu the updates are basically just security and some bug fixes. Opening an application and finding the UI's been shuffled around doesn't happen often (firefox aside). The updates are also usually pretty small thanks to the package manager and the ability to dynamically link libraries, you can typically update a whole system and download will be about the same size as updating a typical windows app.
It's also truly centralized, so the OS updates come through the same channel as the app updates, there is one way to do things. Windows store is still not centralized, some apps will update themselves, some will through the store, some from windows update and some from click once, which still seems to be the only viable enterprise option (oh how I wish for a corporate package repo).
Sadly some of these issues are already starting to push into the linux world through things like docker and snap packages, where things like UI changes can be pushed onto users. There's also the current invasion of software that only (practically) statically compiles so installs/updates will become much more bloated.
It's also truly centralized, so the OS updates come through the same channel as the app updates, there is one way to do things. Windows store is still not centralized, some apps will update themselves, some will through the store, some from windows update and some from click once, which still seems to be the only viable enterprise option (oh how I wish for a corporate package repo).
Sadly some of these issues are already starting to push into the linux world through things like docker and snap packages, where things like UI changes can be pushed onto users. There's also the current invasion of software that only (practically) statically compiles so installs/updates will become much more bloated.