No you can't disable updates, and that's a good thing. One of the risks to security of all users via things like DDOS attacks and phishing emails to your contact list is the user who never updates and never installs security patches so Win 10 forces your hand.
On Win 10 Pro you have a bit more control over timing. On Win 10 home you can trick the system a bit but you get nagged.
Install Chrome, Firefox, Opera or whatever and set as default browser, you might need to reset that default after major Win 10 version updates but normally it 'sticks' through the regular ones. Edge will still open in some circumstances, for instance if you use 'help' in MS apps like excel it's hard wired to use Edge to access the MS help pages. If you really don't want to use Edge for that, don't use help from the programme, instead put your how to question in the search bar of your preferred browser.
IE was an add on, when Edge came along it became a core part of the system. If you use the Win 10 search bar it uses edge technology to search your machine and the outside world.
It has pretty good privacy option configuration, I never used IE but now use Edge some of the time.
Yes, there are buy a Mac and just use Linux supporters. All have their plus and minus and I'm sure a good argument will follow.
