Just an idea:

• Get an HDD
• Use dd to clone your NVME Windows drive.
• Install Linux on your NVME.
• Boot Windows from the HDD as you find you need it (which I suspect would be a lot less than you think).
• If you find you need to go back to Windows, just reclone onto the original drive.

I bet you'll eventually reclaim the HDD, though. I kept mine for about two years, and I nuked it last week, because I hadn't even opened it, much less booted it, in over a year.

There's an easy workaround : install W10 with a local account, then upgrade. No need for any kind of workaround. Disclaimer : this might have worked because I'm in Europe.

Otherwise, there are workarounds for a vanilla install with only local accounts that still works to this day, I did that in a VM. But that's flimsy.

Of course, this leaves you to the whim of "fucking microsoft, we'll screw you forever, bork your data when we want, force you to change computer every other year, and you'll love it", but the option exists.

Chris Titus's WinUtil. In it is a tool called MicroWin that can create a custom installation media which will allow local accounts and also remove all the telemetry, adverts and all the other crap.

Rufus can still bypass every single W11 requirement and automatically complete the setup for you, including a local account.

There will be always a workaround, because Windows NT was originally built with local accounts in mind and the whole system's architecture is based on that. Even if they block every possible way to do that using their official installation media, someone will just create a custom disc image, some script or whatever that you will be able to use to have a local account.

Sail the high seas. Also, you absolutely can still skip logging in and setup a local account.