Linux 7.1 Purges Decades-Old Input Device Drivers to Streamline Kernel Maintenance

Linux 7.1 is removing driver support for obsolete input hardware from the 1990s and early 2000s, including bus mice connected via ISA expansion cards and early touchpad devices that haven't been relevant for nearly three decades. This cleanup effort signals the kernel maintainers' strategic shift toward shedding technical debt and concentrating development resources on contemporary hardware. The move reflects a broader industry trend where mature software platforms become more selective about supporting deprecated technologies as they evolve.