Certain things being remotely controllable is great. Garage door opener, thermostat, some lights, doorbell camera.

Fridge, toaster, coffee maker, washer/dryer? Completely pointless.

While the consumer carries blame, more of it goes to these data mining companies

I don't want a smart TV, but there's only a couple non-smart brands left, and neither of them seem to have the best quality product on the market.

For those wondering why this is on my network, this belongs to my parents. I don’t police what they buy. I just help with their network, but this is a learning experience for them.

Fridge temperature sensors are super useful to notice if you accidentally left the door open.

Similarly, sensors in a coffee machine are useful to detect limescale buildup, water level, etc.

The issue isn't the data but the fact that these "smart" devices aren't local-first.