This is a bad response to Apple stealing personal information from millions of people. OP is not alone when it comes to iCloud partially or completely enabling itself upon updates. The problem is that malware is perfectly legal as long as you have some EULA somewhere to cover it.

The hyperbole seems unnecessary and imo is unproductive.

You shouldn’t call it a hyperbole. Sometimes you have to point things out for what they are rather continue to pretend that it is normal.

Personally I don't let Safari store anything, so there's nothing to sync, even if it was turned on without my consent.