Beacon

Yeah BIOS use happens at startup before the OS starts getting involved. While it’s potentially possible that the bug was only in the windows updater, it’s equally possible that it’s present in both, or just Linux. Any OS is equally as able to install a faulty BIOS update.

It doesn’t have to be for kitchen goods

Even then it doesn’t make sense to wall off the space. People have things that they’ll almost never use again but don’t want to throw away. A tucked away space is perfect for that. Just cut a big hole in the sidewall facing the wedge area, now you have storage space you can reach when you take out the drawers.

You have to live in a very oversized house in area where space is extremely cheap to decide to just throw space away. Yes that wedge of corner space under the counter is inconvenient, but it would still be useful for things you only need to get to very occasionally.

Honestly i think it’s quite possible that earth actually is rare on that regard. Most planets are majorly more uniform than earth. Conditions have to be juuuuuust right for a single planet to have water that exists in all 3 forms at the same time on different areas of the planet. That fact alone creates 4 of the 6 boxes.