The joke is that the system requirements for Linux can be effectively nothing, but of course, some sort of processor is required. It’s hyperbole.
I think it’s also relevant with Windows 10 nearing the end of support, meaning a lot of devices that “can’t run windows 11” are “heading to the landfills” (according to some news articles)
Fact: If it can run Win10, it can run Win11.
Those limitations imposed by MS can be circumvented with Rufus.
I’ve successfully installed Win11 on a Core2Quad with 2GB of RAM… on a spinning drive.
At this point it is about malicious compliance. Oops I can’t have windows anymore.
Sure it can be done, but no corporation in the world will do that and the extremely large population of people who simply don’t care all that much about computers (and I don’t mean that as an insult) won’t do it either.
So effectively, a whole bunch of machines will get scrapped or their users won’t get any updates. And knowing MS’ history, they’ll probably scare people into buying a new PC via pop-ups every week.