I'm just noodlin' here but the problem is that "ARM" is not one but a zoo of iterations. And each iteration would require MS to deliver a different O/S.
AND, even though there is just one manufacturer, each box retailer has different sauce on top of that.
MS is just trying to start with a handful of retailer combinations that it can write for, and service.
Nothing clandestine to see here, move along droids. :))