Many (most?) Windows users find Windows to be frustrating. I find Gentoo to be extremely frustrating a lot of times. Frustration doesn’t really drive people away from tools that are necessary to them.

This isn’t malicious compliance, it’s compliance with the law to the very letter. Good job.

Good. The rule is stupid and deserves to be worked around. Water is essential. I hate when I go to these kinds of public places and they give you no option to get water other than bringing it yourself. Poor logistics on the part of the event organizers.