Why does everyone hate the registry?
Its something that perhaps in a different time would be ok, but a single database that if corrupted could render your computer useless.
Personally, I don't have any issues with the registry, I've managed servers, and workstations for decades and very rarely have I come across a problem that was originated from the registry and/or caused a major issue.
By the same token in macOS, I've run into headaches and issues over the years that came from ~/Library and /Library. Rarely to be sure, but they have occurred, sometimes due to self-infliction
My point is no operating system's database(s) it relies on is 100% safe.
I think much of the hate occurs because of early on, much how Vista is maligned but a fully updated/patched Vista was really no different then windows 7 in performance, features, and stability. Yet the name will go down in infamy as one of the worst versions of windows. The registry in the beginning I think was the same, but as time goes on there's really been no issues with it.
I've seen people complain about the registry left and right in the interwebs throughout the years and then asked why, they failed to provide the reasons - they were just piling on because everyone else was piling on, or because its a favorite target for mac fans.
To be fair, the design of the registry for modern computers, is flawed, a single database where malware could hide in is not a solution we'd see now, but again it was developed when malware really didn't exist.
I'm not defending MS' use of the registry just pointing out that its not as big of a problem as people make it out to be, and its no less stable then other solutions.
that’s why the registry has to be made more secure. Never going to happen, though.
Well it is, by way of having a decent antivirus application running.