I've noticed a new "feature" has been added to recent hotfix bundles - at least for the last few "Workstation" hotfixes for 13.3.1.
Used to be, you could uninstall the old hotfix bundle, install any sundry odd Microsoft security updates as recommended, install the new hotfix and reboot once. If you are servicing a continuously operating plant, it's a little disruptive as each operator station has to be taken offline for up to 20-30 minutes (more if you're unlucky). Operator stations, for the most part, are routinely used by operators for monitoring and control of a running plant, after all.
The last couple Workstation hotfixes now check for pending reboots, so they won't install even if the pending reboot is for a trivial Microsoft patch. This adds at least one additional reboot cycle to the whole task.
Can anyone explain why this check is being added and what value it adds?
Can we work towards making hotfixes and patches less of a hassle instead of more? Should we expect that the discrete workstation architecture (versus virtualization / cloud services) will just continue to be made more tedious and painful until we give it up?