> They're not going to put in that much effort to sneak an internet connection,

The profit from collecting data on you and displaying ads on the TV is greater than the profit from the sale of the TV.

They absolutely will go to whatever lengths they can.

https://www.cnet.com/news/as-smart-tvs-become-the-only-optio...

https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/10/22773073/vizio-acr-adver...