> 2. Get a machine that doesn't use Intel or AMD processors
The only other commercially available x86 processors I'm aware of are Zhaoxin, and I would be very surprised if those didn't have something ME-like baked in.
IMO alternative architectures such as ARM64 are not suitable (yet) for use on general purpose workstations, which is what I assume the OP wants.
Not because these architectures are necessarily deficient in some way, but simply that there is far too many applications that only target X86_64. Last time I tinkered with an ARM based desktop about 90% of what I wanted was there and worked well, but there were too many edge cases for me to feel comfortable recommending it.
It's a network effect thing, and it's slowly changing, but we're not quite there yet.