Yeah, that stupid plug-and-play frenzy is just evil - and some people even advertise how intrusive their software is ("all you've got to do is run the CD...").
My worst experience was with a British ISP (an ISP! What's an ISP's business on my system?!) that rhymes with Yahoo. They would send us a modem and a CD, and a manual that basically said: run the CD to configure the modem).
The CD - which was supposed to "set up the modem" and nothing more - did the following:
- Install Outlook Express and make it the default email client
- Set up the email account provided with the Internet connection in Outlook Express
- Make IE my default browser (and add the line "provided by ..." to the title bar)
- Make their homepage the start page
- Install a browser toolbar
- Pollute any thinkable screen estate with their stupid icons
- made their connection the default Internet connection
- ... oh yeah, and it actually did configure the modem, what a surprise
Additionally, they were the only ISP I ever had that did not allow SMTP relay and even though having a download limit would not give you the possibility to monitor your current traffic volume.
It was the equivalent of calling a plumber to fix a boiler just to find out afterwards that he has a.) done a half-assed job (no SMTP relay?!) and b.) re-arranged all the furniture in your living room, eaten the pizzas in your freezer, replaced your TV with a different one, tried on your underwear and eventually urinated on your carpet.