1) They've only very slightly tweaked an existing feature (pausing updates has been a thing ever since updates were forced in Win10).
2) That doesn't solve the problem, and Microsoft is still forcing users to install updates; giving the goose more of a chance to pause the peg feeding down their throat is not a meaningful improvement. Reverting to the old model of multiple choice is the only good solution, being:
(as per Win7's WU UI settings)
"Install updates automatically (recommended)
Download updates but let me choose whether to install them
Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them
Never check for updates (not recommended)"
The middle two options allowed users to tick which updates they wanted to install, and hide selected updates so they would never see them again. *That* was complete choice in the matter.
But Microsoft doesn't want to do that, because Microsoft knows best, as they have repeatedly demonstrated in recent years in a highly dubious manner. Microsoft wants to have it both ways: They want to avoid responsibility for update testing and outsource it to the users, and they don't want to give users any meaningful choice in the matter.
I'd also place a strong bet that when the 'pause' period expires, Microsoft has not included any method to inform the user that this has happened (preferably combined with a "continue pausing?" prompt) because the important thing for them is that those updates get installed whether you want them or not.
