The remote is still needed so you can pick the AppleTV from input sources, adjust volume, or select picture mode. AppleTV, AFAIK doesn’t have HEC. You need it on both ends for one device to tunnel via Ethernet. AppleTV also doesn’t do ACR and has third-party Jellyfin support. Not so sure about other streaming stick/boxes.

The interface is navigable with the single button they give you on the bottom (Remember buttons? I 'member...), so that's workable. I know the Apple TV reports itself as such on the TV's input selector. Not sure if that's related to this HEC thing though.

It’s pure madness we all have to speculate about ANY of this. Anyone in LG’s corporate line who approved this crap should be demoted for sheer stupidity.

I don't disagree there. But that's the thing - it's not just LG doing this. Nearly every "smart" TV manufacturer does it.

I've been working hard to rid my house of this spy shit, but the TV went under the radar for a long time. This has given me a good motivation bump to keep at it, knowing that what I'm doing isn't for nothing. And my wife is 100% onboard, which really helps.

CEC covers most use cases for me. I barely touch the TV remote. Some models have physical joystick controls if you still want back into the menus.