Thats pretty variable on how its used tho. If it was used like pikmin go, a step counter that you use to gather crafting materials (akin to the actual gathering experience in the horizon games) while you go about your day to day life, it would actually be kind of cool.

What Im picturing is basically the add on that pokemon soulsilver had, where you could put a single pokemon into a literal step counter that gave the pokemon exp as you walked, and sometimes found items or pokemon for you to transfer into your game when you played next. Its a minigame on your phone to gather otherwise semi tedious crafting materials.

And, yeah theyre absolutely going to be harvesting data. Thats a given, which sucks ass. But thats hard to get away from when literally everyone does it. You start a movement to cut that shit from gaming, and Ill march with you. But its not like this is breaking ground on that front.