The problem with turning off all updates is that you won't get the security patches, either. If you are going to be on the internet for any reason even for a short time, and your system is not fully patched, you are vulnerable to exploits. With so many Windows machines all over the world and connected, your vulnerability becomes my vulnerability. A fast-moving virus and, say, a million machines infected and we've all got a real problem. It's a little like not getting vaccinated: I understand your concern, but if you get sick I might catch something from you.
I do think Microsoft should be more transparent about exactly what they are "updating." I am currently trying to recover from the Win 10 Anniversary update. I didn't know what it was, it took an hour and a half to complete, and it screwed up SONAR in ways I still haven't resolved a week later. A simple security patch would probably not have caused so much trouble. If the big "upgrades" were more clearly identified in advance, we could all wait until we had time to deal with potential problems.