>>if you don't trust them, then how do you trust that your cellphone or laptop isn't recording you illicitly?

I dont, and I dont trust them, I am one of "those people" that places tape over the lens. I also do not own an echo, nor will I own this or any device like it

I hate that Phone do not have removal batteries because there was a time where I did remove them.

Some may call be paranoid, but only the paranoid are ever truly prepared