Because Windows users don't have basic package management that anyone can use and they probably got tired of idiots getting malware trying to Google random Notepad++ binaries. It's turtles all the way down.
This not answers my question. I just don't see any necessity to update an editor like Notepad++ at all. Such programs are usually stable and there is no need to add new features constantly. Even security vulnerabilities don't matter much, since a text editor isn't that critical piece of software.
My Notepad++ installation, for example, is 5 years old and it's fine for me.
It probably started with no updates and only a link in the Help menu. Over time they noticed users were getting scammed from Google Ads and other malware delivery methods.
As others have mentioned it a program like this should default into a configuration that has no networking capabilities.
