Re: don't care what they call it...
"Because you're including the entire collection of supporting software that comes with the OS"
It's still true with a feature matched Linux install. See the extensive work on the subject by Jeff Jones.
"Perhaps we should take a look at the number of reported vulnerabilities in IE"
Far fewer than say Chrome
"PDF and Java plug-ins"
Not part of Windows.
"Outlook"
Zero vulnerabilities to date in Outlook 2013. 1 ever in Outlook 2010.