So I've banned the TV from my WIFI network, and I just have a PC plugged into it. Its less convenient this way - we need to pull out a wireless keyboard & mouse to watch netflix. But I think its the right call for sure.
In some ways I think I win on all counts like this. Modern smart tvs are subsidized by creepy advertising. This way I get a cheap TV, and I don't give up any privacy in doing so.
But I worry about a time when TVs ship with cheap 4G modems, and start doing telemetry that way. It might just be a matter of time. I can't be the only one who doesn't connect my tv to wifi; and I bet samsung has run the numbers.
Edit: or maybe a pi hole or something like nordvpn cybersec.
There are some wireless keyboards that looks like a remote, but with qwerty keys on the back, a touchpad / air mouse, and IR blaster with programmable key so you can ditch the original tv remote.
There is also an IR module you can hook into homeassistant to act as universal remote, so you can ditch all remotes and use your phone to control everything via homeassistant.
Monitors. I have a 40" monitor in my living room, connected to the cable company's STB. Not that that's regularly used, most of the time I use my HTPC instead, which runs Kodi.
Replacing it with a monitor of a comparable size would be prohibitively expensive.
I run Kodi on a Raspberry Pi for this exact reason. The Pi's HDMI has CEC support built-in, which means the TV's remote works seamlessly with Kodi's UI. This works great for my Netflix needs.
Unfortunately, most (all?) PC graphics don't do CEC out of the box. I've seen USB adapters that can add this functionality to PCs but I've never tried any of them.
I've actually come to appreciate the wireless keyboard though, it is awkward and bulky (even though it's a lightweight slim model) but the kids constantly lose the actual remote whereas the keyboard's size make losing it very difficult.
No comment about the 5G thing though. If that's where consumer is heading you'll find me shopping in the advertising/DOH display panel section and trying my hardest to ignore the irony :D
A smart TV wouldn't straight-out spy on an external use like this, would it?
I would love to upgrade from the 10 year old dumb Sanyo to something with a better picture. But, a friend who's in AV install and TV resale did some digging and there aren't options out there to buy.
I'm hoping some larger monitors will come out and fill in this gap for somebody spec hungry like myself, but doubtful.