If you check out Malwarebytes/Binisoft Windows Firewall Control, you can pretty much manage Win10 talking via network access management.
With say a PiHole doing domain blocking, and WFC doing process access on the actual machine (pretty trivial to set up), you can manage Win10 pretty well.
I've put off running 10 on my main working machines until now. I've been running 10 as a second boot on my main work machine and on my laptop for years just to see what they're like.
However it's the main OS on my new work machine and I've been setting it all up how I want it using WFC mostly. I've still not swapped over fully but it seems time to make the jump now.
I think Windows 10 is terrible but newer hardware/drivers/security require it.
Mostly for me the issue is telemetry (so I feel I've got that mostly under control), and the poor control panel which is seemingly spread between three interface styles/portals... so managing the OS especially at setup or when trouble shooting is a nightmare.
I can see why you've wanted to avoid the jump to Win10 for so long because it is a pain to work with.
