"Helldivers fans – we’ve heard your feedback on the Helldivers 2 account linking update. The May 6 update, which would have required Steam and PlayStation Network account linking for new players and for current players beginning May 30, will not be moving forward.
We’re still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and we’ll keep you updated on future plans."
“Buy two things instead of one”
Yes, exactly.
If your $20 streaming device starts fucking with you, rip it out and replace it. If your several hundred (thousand?) dollar device decides it’s going to fuck you with rampant ads and user data collection and forced arbitration you didn’t agree to when you bought it 6 months ago, well now you have a much bigger problem.
What streaming device is $20? Amazon firestick is close to that but still more and has all the ads and tracking we’re complaining about. Chromecast, a used crappy version, is $50+ after taxes it looks like, then Roku seems to be even more. I mean I get it and we all want to stop ads. I personally have pihole and just blocked the Samsung telemetry stuff but not everyone is that savvy. That’s the point of the first comment of this chain. Most people just want a simple single device to watch what they want without all the ads and tracking. All these companies suck, let’s unite over that!
Walmart ONN 4k
Unfortunately that’s unlikely to ever be the case. You can use a Linux PC but it will not be a great experience.
Using the one in your TV is most likely to get you the most ads and tracking because they know they can implement them in such a way that the only recourse you have is to succumb to their demands or buy a new TV. Roku has already begun this.
Sure.
That said a lil media center PC (maybe Raspberry Pi) or an Apple TV - both more than $20 once properly loaded, even used I imagine - is probably much less enshittified (spy-y & ad-y).