First guess is that VR in that symbol stands for variable resistor (trimpot or potentiometer). The arrow pointing to the center of the resistor also makes it look like a potentiometer
Every new internet-connected feature they add seems to also increase attack surface, so this is a weird dilemma. Still better to keep things up to date in the short term. In the long term, I've made the choice to switch to an OS that respects user preferences.
Edit: I've also heard that the Windows 11 IoT enterprise edition doesnt come with all this bloat but still gets regular security updates
I'd argue that it's not the population at large, but the millionaire and billionaire class that needs to experience maximum discomfort. You might have noticed that private jets started getting turned away from busy airports just before the vote to end the shutdown happened. Making the wealthy uncomfortable does more change in the US than making life more difficult for people on the brink of poverty with no safety net.
Sounds like something academics say to themselves to feel better about academia