At the time it was introduced it was understandable, and Microsoft also needed some time to implement it before that of course. But by about 2000 it was clear that UTF-8 was going to win, and Microsoft should have just properly implemented it in NT instead of dithering about for the next almost 20 years. Linux had quite good support of it by then.

I have something similar, I tend to describe it to people as a light tinnitus. It's a permanent high tone, but I don't usually notice it unless it's very silent around me or I intentionally tune into it, and even then it's not very loud. Never mentioned it to a doctor. I think I know which loud disco I got it from when I was about 7.