Quick Access (aka Favorites) has been around since XP and default on in Explorer since Vista, though yes some of the views have changed after 7, this particular bug is possible in Vista and 7.
The Windows Explorer being an "object explorer" that doesn't necessarily show physical objects but can also show logical objects that are "folder-like" is a design/architecture that dates back all the way to Windows 95 (and has always been seen in places like the old Control Panel).
"Gradually turned into since Windows 7" is pretty much "has always been since Windows 95", sorry to say.
Quick Access (aka Favorites) has been around since XP and default on in Explorer since Vista, though yes some of the views have changed after 7, this particular bug is possible in Vista and 7.
The Windows Explorer being an "object explorer" that doesn't necessarily show physical objects but can also show logical objects that are "folder-like" is a design/architecture that dates back all the way to Windows 95 (and has always been seen in places like the old Control Panel).
"Gradually turned into since Windows 7" is pretty much "has always been since Windows 95", sorry to say.