>> Unless you can examine what's being sent and have the ultimate choice of what's shared and when.

You do have choice. Use VSCodium or don’t install vscode at all.

>> The only reason to collect data surreptitiously is if you're a creep and up to no good.

Or you want to improve your program.

> Unless you can examine what's being sent

You can: telemetry code is open source. For a more detailed reports like crash reports you usually can see the full report and approve it before sending.

> The only reason to collect data surreptitiously

It's not surreptitious at all.

Microsoft has been caught disregarding consent and engaging in dark patterns... too many times to list here. There's also no way to keep on top of what tens of thousands of employees are doing, or what a present or future CEO might decide.

These blanket statements are therefore not compelling.