And so it thinks it is fairly new, then, and doesn't require any tubes replaced. Should that change, it will let you know.

My TV isn't even connected to power

Every time anything asks for a DOB or anything like that, I enter the earliest date their system allows. Been doing it for decades.

I guess that might make me more trackable?

The gaming consoles aren't subsidized via the data collection like smart TVs are via content recognition (selling everything on your screen to advertisers).

Consoles are sometimes sold at a loss, but the revenue model is different. Playstation plus/game pass, a cut of game sales and microtransactions, exclusives, and accessories.

No one should ever connect their TV to the internet. There just isn't any reason to, get access to your streaming apps another way.

Yes. I bought a Samsung TV and there isn’t a way to set up Art Mode without the internet. So first you have to get a raspberry pi, install pi hole, then switch your router’s DNS.

What a wild experience 2026 is. But I do feel like a wizard.

If it connects to another network, it's somebody else's problem. Unless of course, it has a built in webcam or microphone.

I haven't seen any open WiFi networks around me in years. I don't think it's a thing anymore; it's definitely not something a TV company can rely on.

I have an open guest network with a captive portal, and not once have I seen my LG TV try to connect to it.

Source? HDMI includes Ethernet in the spec, but I've never heard of any devices actually implementing it.

That would require the Roku to specifically be set up to act as a router. You can't just connect to a random device that's not specifically a router/AP and use its internet connection.

Since Roku like other smart TV companies makes money off of user data captur, it's not incentivized to enable those conditions for a downstream device, especially if not specifically advertised as a feature.

This again? Yes, it’s in the spec. No, no one has been shown to have actually implemented it. No streaming box is going to allow random devices to use their connection.

E-Arc uses the wires intended for Ethernet. Hook your Roku up to an earc port if you're seriously concerned about it.

does a roku provide a dhcp server, issue a dhcp lease, do NAT and routing to things that are plugged into it over the 100M ethernet built into a current gen HDMI link?