I understand the Windows registry has improved a lot over the years, but if there is a way to skip it altogether, why risk having problems with your Windows registry from adding and removing a lot of software (if you don't need to).

If you just want to try out a program that has a portable app version, you may want to try out the portable app version first, so you won't be adding and deleting as many programs from the Windows registry. Portable apps are executable programs that don't use the Windows registry. This is understandable for companies to do this, and it wont have any effect on you running some of your favorite free software. The reasons system administrators lock down the company computers, is to reduce the chances of the company getting a virus or hackers getting in and doing something malicious or stealing company secrets. If you are a Linux user at home and have to use a Windows system at work, or if your company, school, or local library only runs windows computers and does not allow you to install software, you can still run many of your favorite free programs like LibreOffice or Stellarium, and when you are done, all your data can go with you on your usb flashdrive. If you never use a windows computer, you can stop reading here - this is not for you. Portable Apps - are software that you can run on a Windows system, from portable USB flash drive.

Libreoffice base portable