Windows 11 activation after HW Change

Yes, buying older refurbished models makes more sense than giving a fortune for a current model. However, like I said, I am not going to replace mine unless it is REALLY obsolete (compare an old 2000's Intel Pentium 4 vs today's technology) and I can no longer do what I do now.

Microsoft wants you to buy new hardware that can spy on you faster... it's that simple.

No need, they can spy on us even with an old computer running Windows 7. But they have done a deal with manufacturers to make people upgrade their computers or replace them. That's why the fake system requirements for 8th generation Intel Core i3 or 2nd generation AMD Ryzen CPU, TMP 2.0 and Secure Boot. When they realized that people just bypass compatibility check and upgrade to Windows 11 anyway, they compiled version 24H2 to demand SSE4.2 instructions. This cannot be circumvented, so at least they ruled out very old systems. People panicked and did bought new computers or at least upgraded their old systems to make them compliant. For the record 24H2, 25H2 and the upcoming 26H2 can be installed on any CPU with SSE4.2 instructions and this is at least 1st generation Intel Core-i3 or equivalent AMD. So no hurry to upgrade just yet.