i mostly avoid "smart" tvs as i don't want to have to replace them after 3 years when the firmware/software is no longer updated. Chromecast helps me stay free of that paid obsolescence cycle and upgrade according to a planned budget
My parent's "smart" tv from 2014 is still going strong because of this. i got them an(at the time) expensive 1920x1080 HD model and for that reason it's still going strong. The "smart" features are mostly kaput now or so glitchy they don't work. Only netflix still works but netflix is shit now so they switched to prime. Since the tv has 2 hdmi in i just got them a chromecast(for regular internet video casting) and a fire stick(stupid amazon incompatibility with chromecast) instead
I agree with you for the most part, I just feel like the chromecast was badly thought out, being that it was more like a browser on a stick that didn't have any direct user input (other than some phone app) rather than a true TV appliance with a remote.
And while pretty much every tv I own has a chromecast, they just don't get used -- Mostly because the connection between my chrome cast and my pixel 2 is flaky. And that's even on google wi-fi.
And I really miss the tactile feel of a remote control that you don't have to look at to use.
My parent's "smart" tv from 2014 is still going strong because of this. i got them an(at the time) expensive 1920x1080 HD model and for that reason it's still going strong. The "smart" features are mostly kaput now or so glitchy they don't work. Only netflix still works but netflix is shit now so they switched to prime. Since the tv has 2 hdmi in i just got them a chromecast(for regular internet video casting) and a fire stick(stupid amazon incompatibility with chromecast) instead