I absolutely hate "smart" TVs! You can't even buy a quality "dumb" panel anymore. I can't convince the rest of my family and friends that the only things those smarts bring are built-in obsolescence, ads, and privacy issues.
I make it a point to NEVER connect my new 2022 LG C2 to the Internet, as any possible improvements from firmware updates will be overshadowed by garbage like ads in the UI, removal of existing features (warning: reddit link), privacy violations, possible attack vectors, non-existent security, and constant data breaches of the manufacturers that threaten to expose every bit of personal data that they suck up. Not to mention increased sluggishness after tons of unwanted "improvements" are stuffed into it over the years, as the chipset ages and can no longer cope.
I'd much rather spend a tenth of the price of my TV on a streaming box (Roku, Shield TV, etc.) and replace those after similar things happen to them in a few years. For example, the display of my OG 32-inch Sony Google TV from 2010 ($500) still works fine, but the OS has long been abandoned by both Sony and Google, and since 2015-16 even the basic things like YouTube and Chrome apps don't work anymore. Thank goodness I can set the HDMI port as default start-up, so I don't ever need to see the TV's native UI, and a new Roku Streaming Stick ($45) does just fine on this 720p panel. Plus, I'm not locked into the Roku ecosystem. If they begin (continue?) enshitifying their products, there are tons of other options available at similar price.
Most people don't replace their TVs every couple of years. Hell, my decade old 60-inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD TV that I bought for $2200 back in 2011 still works fine, and I only had to replace the streamer that's been driving it twice during all this time. Sony Google TV Box -> Nvidia Shield TV 2015 -> Nvidia Shield TV 2019. I plan to keep it in my basement until it dies completely before replacing it. The Shield TV goes to the LG C2 so that I never have to see LG's craptastic UI.
Sorry, just felt the need to vent. Would be very interested in reading community's opinions on this topic.
I don't think I'll ever need anything like a streaming box or whatever. I'm fine with the computer monitor I have right now, which is a bit wider then an early 2000's CRT. Anything I stream is done through Firefox with NoScript and Origin to block the bullshit. I'm not entirely sure why anyone uses streaming boxes and whatnot when you can just do the same thing, but safer and cheaper on a desktop. Maybe so you can more easily watch stuff with people in the same room? Find a use for that couch? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
An Amazon Fire Stick is far smaller, much quieter, draws less power and is simpler to use than a general-purpose PC.
Plus, if I'm using a PC I'd probably only use Linux, so I'd have to deal with lower quality streams because DRM... so overall the experience would be worse.
Using a more 'normie' Windows box as a streaming box could work, but that doesn't solve the noise(!) and power draw issues, that feels like a compromise rather than a choice.
I've recently bought a Fire Stick and don't regret it one bit. It's doesn't fell janky and doesn't have ads as far as I can tell. The provided remote inclues an IR emitter than can turn the TV on/off and change volume (why isn't this provided by HDMI itself is beyond me), and it's much faster than any smart tv so you can watch content without having to wait
I forget about the DRM bullshit Linux needs to deal with. As GabeN says, paraphrasing "piracy is a service problem."
Stremio + Torrentio + a debrid service is easier and better than bouncing between different online subscription services.