For similar reasons many years back when I broke the bank for a G2, I decided to disconnect it forever. Besides the always-on spyware, every update broke something, which is incredibly frustrating considering the amount I spent. For instance, I got a GX soundbar for free with the TV which worked fine for 1–2 months until some update borked it and made it glitch out randomly. To date, none of their updates seem to have fixed it. I now only connect it back to the web — if needed — once a year or so but even this needs plenty of careful research across the web to see if the update package breaks something else I take for granted.

Hooking up an Apple TV 4K to this thing was the best decision I ever made and the sheer performance of this thing puts every TV vendor to shame. I would recommend everyone to do the same if they're already in the Apple ecosystem.

I agree ive hooked up apple tv to override the crappy subsidized smart tv built ins that spy on you. That works until apple changes leadership and new leadership starts significantly mining data and caring less about privacy. It will happen at some point, not on Cooks term but someone else im sure of it.

While I've left my now fairly old TV on the internet, I use optical (TOSLINK) out to a cheap class D amplifier, which seems to have been a more reliable system than any of the HDMI audio based ones.

Is it possible to use an LG without ever connecting it to the internet in the first place?