This is funny.

How do you feel about thermostats? Are some things worth it? I've had a "smart" one for the past five years, part of a new furnace install, that I've stubbornly refused to connect to my wifi. Of course this means if we forget to turn the heat down while no one's home, there's nothing to be done about it.

There are ways to control a device remotely without letting the device spy on you and call home - Zigbee, Matter, Esphome..