>> There has to be a way to simply create static HTML files in VS, store them in a folder and see them in a project.
>That's easy
>Create a desktop console project.
>It will let you create any kind of files you like.
>However, you won't be able to run them from IDE.
>In order to run them from the IDE you'll need all those other files you don't like.

If you create HTML pages in a console app you can still use 'View in Browser'