You wouldn't, and that's just fine. But for the cost of an afternoon at my parents' house, I can have them set up with a handful of services that I know they like (Hulu, Netflix) and add a few things I want them to use (Plex, namely), give them a super simple remote and a tutorial, and off they go. And since they already have iPhones, they understand the concept of an App Store that lets them install new stuff, and I don't have to worry. So, yeah, the Apple TV isn't for you, but it's for plenty of other people.
tvOS needs an update? How do I do that? This version of tvOS breaks my favorite app? How do I downgrade? Do I really have to type in my password with this little remote to authorize a purchase? Oh, I'm supposed to buy a bluetooth keyboard to enter passwords/text?
My 70 year old father had no problem getting chromecast to work with his computer and TV. He saw the thing advertised on TV, bought it, set it up, and uses it to watch youtube on the big screen.
I find this whole coddling the older generation mentality a bit strange honestly. Sure, I'll show my dad how to backup his computer with time machine and how to install an adblocker in Chrome...but I'm betting he's had a computer and a TV for long enough that he can figure out how to stream shows to his TV without Apple TV if he wants to.
I think you missed my bigger point, which was that because you don't see the need for the device doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I also have my own AppleTV, which I love very much. Yeah, I could hook any of my multiple computers to it, or buy one that I dedicate to it full time, or anything, but I don't want to. I want to grab a remote, which is basically a glorified d-pad with some extra buttons, and see content. I don't want to have to bring down my computer, or keep a spare power brick by the entertainment center, or navigate to Netflix.com before getting on the couch, or having a 50 foot cable strewn across my room. I'm happy to experiment with my computers, but when I decide that it's time to zone out and watch TV, I don't want to be doing my day job of running a computer.
As for updates and stuff, you've clearly not used an AppleTV in a while, since they can auto update now and you wouldn't notice. You can't, but could never downgrade, and that's not important to me to be able to do. And with their iPhones, they can type on their iPhone's keyboard instead of the tiny remote that you really have a distaste for.
I'm not coddling my parents, but I also don't think that having a dedicated box that really does "just work" is coddling. Plenty of people keep cable around solely because there's no thought to you - you turn on a box, and pictures come out.
But you keep doing you, and I'll keep doing me. Plenty of room for both of us.
I guess I'm just frustrated because it seems like another sort of useless thing that is going to draw a lot of money and developer time and effort for what I view as not terribly important, especially for the amount it costs.
Didn't mean to project my frustrations onto you or attack you/your parents personally. Just trying to get to the bottom of why people purchase and use Apple TV, and I see why now. It's easy and requires no thought, which is exactly what you need when you're getting in the mood to relax and watch some shows.
I spend all day with computers, most of the time fighting to make them work the way I want them to (bug fixes, learning new stuff, etc). When it's TV time, it's TV time, not "oh man, Plex was running fine last night, what happened..." time.
Constantly plugging/unplugging your laptop is annoying. Especially if there are other people in the household watching TV or using the laptop.
Apple TV has no mandatory subscription beyond what you already have (Netflix, Hulu, etc).
The remote is easy to use (4 buttons, a touchpad, and a "mouse button"). With HDMI-CEC, you don't have to worry about TV or AV modes - they switch themselves on and to the correct settings every time. And it's over Bluetooth, so no holding the Harmony at just the right angle to get everything switched.
There is no dongle - just a power cord and an HDMI cord. Same as you have with your laptop or other device.
The Siri remote is just like the trackpad on your laptop. It's not a "new" interface - it's just new to the TV.
It's preferable to a laptop because you don't have to go into the control panel and switch audio and make sure the screen sizes match, and tuck the laptop somewhere that the screen doesn't light up the room, and walk back and forth to the laptop to change media sources.
You pay for the subscriptions to get content. Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. Things you would not get for free using your laptop solution, either.
That's essentially what I did, when it was just me that wanted to use the TV, and I only had one in the apartment. My wife appreciates being able to stream her shows even when I want to use the laptop, and I like being able to watch something on the second TV. The Roku and game systems that I use as streaming devices make that pretty easy, and they don't require hooking and unhooking a computer to the TV.
b) The remote/dongles come with the AppleTV.
c) I don't know if you are this sheltered but most people aren't connecting their computer to their TV. Even if they wanted to, which they don't, most would struggle to get it working. AppleTV, Chromecast, Amazon TV and similar devices fill this gap and are pretty popular.
d) Yes Apple is trying to create an app ecosystem with the TV/Siri Remote.
Apps are the future of television. Think about it. On your mobile devices and computers, you already use apps such as Netflix, Hulu, WatchESPN, and iTunes to watch TV shows. And that’s exactly where TV in the living room is headed. Apps have liberated television. They allow you to make individual choices about what you want to watch. And when and where you want to watch it. With the new Apple TV and its powerful new tvOS, developers are creating experiences that will change what you expect from your big screen, making your TV feel as personal as your iPhone or iPad.
Has Apple copy always been written like an eager tech blog post? Doesn't fit with the sleek, modern, sophisticated, enigmatic brand. Or at least, what used to be my perception the brand.
As for the actual device itself: why would I buy it with the remote, subscriptions, dongles, etc. when I could buy an HDMI cable and use my laptop's "apps" instead? Is Apple trying to create an app ecosystem with the TV/Siri Remote as the form factor instead of the iPhone/finger Macbook/trackpad/mouse? That makes absolutely no sense to me.