Because people liked the feature. Look, I’m just saying WHY they added windows. That was the reason. I’m not saying it’s a good reason or no one could figure things out before. They added them for that reason, people liked it, and it stuck around. Yet, there’s always gonna be someone dragging out their 30 year old washer going “but mine is fine!”. Never said it wasn’t. Or someone pointing out that not all washers have a window even today. Cool. Nifty. But if yours does have one, that was the reason they got added.

That’s what I still use and it does not. I have zero reason to know what’s going on inside however because it literally operates on the equivalent of a kitchen egg timer. It’s done when the dial says it’s done. All controls are entirely mechanical. Washing machine is older than I am. I bet the damn thing is 50 years old.

Edit: Same as this one which seems to be a model from the 70s.