Bridget, it is not about this call, it is about the trend. Each call by itself might be justified, the trend in which users are encouraged to use unsecure platfoms for years after the publically became unsecure is a different thing.

As for PHP on windows, good job of getting things out of context. I am sure you didn't intend too but that exactly what you have done. microsoft will not be releasing PHP for windows which is the same as linux not releasing PHP for linux, a fact that never prevented anyone to run wordpress on linux.