I simply use MSMG Toolkit over at MDL forums, remove all the packages I don't want prior to installing from ISO.
No cortana (warning: no start menu searching either), no modern apps (you can intergrate calc.exe), no store, defender, remove alot of telemetry, one drive, etc.
You don't trust Microsoft--who wrote the kernel and many of the drivers you're using--but trust some random .exe from a forum?
These discussions always avoid talking about the merits of data-driven design and always assume malicious intent.