Nah, Microsoft still requires some degree of validation
OK, so maybe I was too quick to rejoice. After all, this is Microsoft we’re talking about.
So today, I got the last of my parts in, and was able to try activation. Unfortunately, their system wasn’t as permissive as I’d hoped it would be. For starters, it didn’t just instantly verify me and spit me back a code to enter. But it didn’t instantly make me talk to a customer service rep like it used to, either. Apparently their computer is now smart enough to ask me the same questions the rep had to ask me before. Things like: how many computers is this copy of Windows installed on (only 1), has there recently been major hardware changes (yes), did I get a new motherboard (yes), was the old one defective (no) … OOPS sorry, something in our license makes me not want to validate you. Now you have to talk to a rep anyway.
… one who would pretty much ask me the same general questions. But HE would give me the installation ID I needed. How thoughtful!
So thankfully, I am now validated. And hopefully I won’t have to bother with that again for a long time to come.