Sorry to hear that. Next time you’re looking for a new TV, look for “digital signage” instead. Though the price isn’t subsidized with adware, it should be what you’re looking for. It’s a shame it’s come this far.
Your comment might be lost on those who might not have visibility into that industry. Digital signage displays are mostly panels with minimal driving electronics and, more often than not, external devices to handle the storage and connectivity of material to display. In that sense, yes, they tend to be just a monitor with an input.