> Open-source is only part of it; in terms of privacy, being able to see what all is being sent in/out of my device is is arguably more important than open source.

I agree; unfortunately it feels as if this ship has not only sailed, but the metaphor would have to be expanded to involve the port at well.

Is it even possible, these days, to have a functioning experience with no surprise network requests? I've tried to limit mine via an extensive hosts file list, but that did break stuff even a decade ago, and the latest version of MacOS doesn't seem to fully respect the hosts file (weirdly it partially respects it?)

> A screen on my wall that flashes every JSON that gets sent out of hardware that I own should be my right.

I remember reading a tale about someone, I think it was a court case or an audit, who wanted every IP packet to be printed out on paper. Only backed down when the volume was given in articulated lorries per hour.

I sympathise, but you're reminding me of that.