> So the car requires a remote connection to work?

Not at all. You can open it with a phone app (which does require connectivity for both the phone and the car) or a keyfob/proximity key card.

I've operated my Tesla many times well outside of any network connectivity.

EDIT: Full and accurate list of the four ways to get into a Tesla here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29283262

No the car does not require a remote connection to work. See my detailed explanation here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29283262

It does not require a remote connection to work. To unlock the car with your mobile app does though.

I am curious what you mean by a proper quality car since all cars have governors which limit your speed or have computers in them that prevent you from fixing things yourself. Though I do agree with you that I wish these restrictions were lifted, I doubt it will ever happen. Only way is either building your own car or buying an old one without these "features"

I'm not a radical. I'm totally ok with embedded software, or with the legal restrictions you mention. I'm also ok with software that is optional or uninstallable too.

What I dislike is companies putting unnecessary, unsafe, crappy software that's full of tracking/spyware in their products. This is common with SmartTVs and lots of things in the smart/IoT space. I've seen the damage done and I just dislike the lack of choice and want to vote with my wallet.

Why can’t you buy a smart TV and not connect it to the Internet?

Just voting with my wallet. I simply don't want to pay for wasteful, insecure, low-quality software that I consider detrimental to me (and for the hardware needed to run such software). I would be ok with optional/uninstallable software.

Because the tv will look for internet connections.