Well, sure, you can get the update files as a download and install them manually, if you know how and are willing to go through that extra hassle and understand what to get.
I've tried explaining that to normal Windows users, without success. They want to get Windows Updates by clicking "Windows Updates". That's not an unreasonable expectation.
I could never find a way to have the "Windows Update" service run with any other browser as a tool. If you know a way, by all means spill the beans, please.
I simply checked off “Notify but do not download” on the updates options.
Then when notified of new updates being available, would select XP security stuff and their malware program updates. Ignored IE updates as I never used it, had removed IE long before.
Always preferred picking and choosing which updates to download, as stuff for Office and IE did not apply. Always worked well. Some Net 3.5 thing was the only one that would download but refuse to install.