Once Microsoft started putting ads in the Windows start menu all bets were off.

I update via USB. Features do get added that improve the experience but I think that's probably and edge case because I'm using the VRR and HDR heavily as a PC monitor. I haven't had any issues except that I can't turn off bluetooth advertising and, every now and then, a neighbor tries to pair.

Reputation isn't what it used to be. Which tech news org is willing to risk the wrath of LG, losing early access, losing invitations to events.

Money can buy reputation, so as long as the revenue from ads exceeds the cost to repair reputational damage, this will continue.

This is also a case where the manufacturer takes advantage of the unstable software Zeitgeist to gaslight users into thinking this is just how things are now, it's normal and natural and if you don't like it you're old/disruptive/weird.