> The AppleTV he recommended to use in its place has ads too I believe, through sponsored app placements

This really is the most nitpicking anti-Apple comments I’ve seen in a while. A friend of mine had a TV that would randomly interrupt films and programs he was watching (even in the middle of an action sequence) and show an ad that was inserted by the TV software. Luckily only happened for about 6 months - I’m guessing viewer reaction was too much for this ‘feature’ to survive.

To see the ‘ad’ you’re referring to, you’d have to go into the Apple AppStore, search for an app, go to the result screen and maybe see a small section at the top of that view with a sponsored application.

What a nit.

> AppleTV or similar

Pick your poison. Doesn't have to be Apple TV, you could use anything from a Roku to a kodi stick to plugging a computer into the TV and playing things locally. What you're criticizing isn't the point.

I guess, the point here is, why disable the smart features in your TV only to plug another, just as “smart”, device (i.e. one that watches you) in it?

…because it has less/no ads, and without some smarts somewhere I can’t watch Netflix?

Feel free to substitute a computer running GNU/Linux as the “smarts” here. This can be quite ergonomic with a wireless trackpad-keyboard combo. I’m quite happy with an Apple TV running Emby though.