Is full of ads due to Android TV mandating it.
No, I don't need to learn about this new show you have on some service I don't have a subscription to. No I don't want this app to setup an applet on the homepage.
All I want is a list of apps, a settings button and a shut down one. On a plain black background with no moving part.
Android TV has an "Apps only" mode that does exactly that: https://support.google.com/googletv/answer/10070784?hl=en
The downside (which some might consider an upside) is that that mode also breaks voice control.
> In Apps only mode, you don't get personalized recommendations on your home screen. You’ll find a list of installed apps that you can open to find something to watch. You'll also find sponsored content and teasers for popular movies and shows.
The only drawback is the lack of HDMI passthrough for Plex. I have an Nvidia shield just for this use case.
The Apple TV app might advertise their services, but that doesn’t mean the Apple TV platform is doing any advertising. You only see the app’s ads if you hover over it on the Home Screen and if you remove the app or move it out of the way, you no longer see its ads.
HDMI passthrough is really the only good solution.
Projectivity launcher
(note: Since SmartTube will spoil you making regular YT unbearable, a similar fix for desktop browsers is to install a collaborative community UserScript called "Nova YouTube".)
Occasionally it may break because for obvious reasons Google does their best to force people to use their unwatchable page, but usually the fix comes out very quickly. How to make it perfect? Move from Electron to Tauri and make also a Kodi extension. I use Invidious on LibreElec/Kodi, but it's not even close.