That's what I'm talking about. They'll gradually make it harder to use it without going online. May be by increasing the bootup times. Eventually they'll remove that option altogether. Isn't that what happened with Windows login? We can also expect them to add RF devices like 6G modems as they become more common. These corporations aren't going to leave that choice to you.

The choice is not to buy those devices if it comes to that.

Car manufacturers also do similar things (onboard 4G/5G modem), and one solution (other than driving an old car) is to disconnect the cellular modem. Of course the issue is that few people know there is one in their cars in the first place, so they are unknowingly snooped on.