[fishtacos]

My experience reflects OP's as well. It's not "ads", but things like searching using the SEARCH button inside a non-Apple app returns results from the Apple store.

If one uses it in a search box inside the app, it works in the local context. Imagine having to teach one's elderly parents what the difference is when the remote only has something like 5 buttons and one of them doesn't work how it's supposed to in a consistent manner. Local context vs. global context in searches is an absurd concept in the purview of the average consumer. Hell - I can't understand it half the time because it's so counterintuitive.

That's shady behavior and prioritizes Apple's own services over EVERY competitor.

Besides its terrible remote (the gen I have, at least), the usability constraints are insulting.

Roku has other severe limitations, but they don't outright manipulate their UI and their user experience in such an underhanded manner.