How else would this type of interchange work between disparate systems other than by equipping all systems with a piece of software to bridge the gap? In what way is this a problem and what makes it 'hacky'? When you want to use your Apple-device to interact with something non-Apple you install a piece of software to enable this interaction - that was the premise of a 'smart phone' after all, a device which' functionality can be extended by installing software? This in contrast to a 'feature phone' where all functionality has been baked in by the manufacturer/distributor. You seem to be using your Apple devices more in the way of the latter - using only manufacturer-provided functionality.
> I don't want to use a VPN? I want to use my regular home wifi or phone network, like a normal person.
I do not want to use 'the cloud' and Bluetooth in ways I do not have control over [1] - as I said, to each his own?
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/02/26/simple-ap...
I was talking about Mac and iPhone having seamless integration - something I have not noticed of any other ecosystem. I have not been able to share clipboards with an android and a PC (Win and Linux) without installing an app, or doing some other hacky things. The integration, while possible, doesn't exist by default. It's not seamless. It doesn't _just work_.
> KDE Connect and other similar tools work fine over a VPN
I don't want to use a VPN? I want to use my regular home wifi or phone network, like a normal person.