> And it definitely is never easier than opening an app on your smart tv/console/etc and clicking play.

It is. For everyone who cares about privacy, security implications of using an app on a smart tv, for everyone who doesn't want to own a smart tv or a console, for everyone who already knows how to do it with torrents. And so on.

Easiness is subjective. Simplicity isn't, but streaming apps are not simpler in any way.