The problem is that it’s becoming unavoidable. Right now the only oven with a good Consumer Reports rating requires a Wi-Fi connection, so it’s either get that model or another one with a significantly worse rating.
I have to think there's an acceptable oven on the market that doesn't have a Wi-Fi requirement. I bought a GE Adora oven a few years ago and it has been exactly as perfectly uncomplicated an oven as I've ever wanted; it was even easy to replace the handle when I broke it off in a moment of poor judgement. It looks like those are still available, and don't require any Wi-Fi access.
I guarantee you Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Viking do not require Wi-Fi connections.
Sure, but they get worse reviews, and I can get 8 years of insurance on the appliance to cover if it gets hacked for less than the cost difference.
If I bought an oven and it required an internet connection I'd be getting my money back.
Is this some weird American only thing? I keep hearing on HN how everything requires wifi now, but in Australia, I couldn't find any major oven that had wifi at all, and only 14 out of 504 fridges on a popular appliances site (Appliances Online) had wifi at all.
I'd be interested to know what the options look like in other countries.