FW without bells and whistles like HIPS/BB/SB/AV and other network protection features which form the IDS/IPS is out of favor nowadays.
Who cares if a basic FW is out of favor? People need a FW whatever the form it takes.
As regards inbound attacks like by hackers, DDoS, bots etc how often does these apply to the normal home users?
Because normal users aren't the main target, they don't need it.? come on... your logic is absurd.
Because i'm not a F1 pilot and i drive very slowly, so i will surely never crash against a wall , so i dont need an airbag and a seatbelt? really?
If you are using legit programs what traffic is there to monitor? Out they go and In they come. Just accept that, no?
How do you know what your so called "legit" program do in the background?
There is plenty of story where "legit" program call home for no reasons and disclose your datas...wait ! what is the name?!!! ah yes TELEMETRY....and what if the dev goes rogue and decide to add a hidden backdoor or keylogging feature?
There is several stories where hackers replaced the legit installer from a legit honorable vendor by an infected one. Ask Linux Mint.
So you still don't need a FW?
How many users with FW on their computer will constantly see and monitor FW traffic?
User don't need to "see" or monitor with their very eyes, the basic FW does and report in the log (WinFW), others alert if something is suspicious (Symantec EP, ESET, etc...).
Home users are primarily more concerned with malware infections, spamming, phishing etc over the mentioned FW attacks.
Out of context, the debate is not "does user have to be concerned over using a FW" but "does a FW is relevant today?" and the answer is still YES.
Why Comodo is so popular today? because it started as the best 3rd party FW at his time, WinFW on XP/7 sucked greatly.
You wanted a solid network protection, you had to go with Zone Alarm, Comodo, Outpost or Online Armor.
Seems you are denying the need of a FW because you discovered Hacker Detterent , but dont you know that it need the
Windows Filtering Platform which is the basis of any network
filtering software on modern Windows?
WFP is the chassis, Firewalls or other apps are the body.
Hacker Detterent is only about outbound stuff; so basically useless against any inbound threats.
Anyway, in the end im sure you will end up with a FW , because everybody need it. Simple as that.