> So... we get the cheapest TV and just hook a laptop up to it
Exactly, and that's another reason why "ad-free" TVs won't sell. Those who just want to connect their laptop via HDMI will buy the cheapest TV with that feature. They won't pay more to avoid seeing ads in the menu screens they don't use anyways.
Now, it may change if they force ads in the HDMI stream or something equally annoying, but they didn't go that far (yet?).
Agree. I nomad, and about 6 years ago I saw my last TV without an HDMI input. And only once in that time, I came across a DP monitor. I now carry a USB-C to HDMI cable that lets me use my phone as a desktop whenever it's plugged into a TV.
Is it? This is one of those things where I don't feel I've ever had a choice.
So... we get the cheapest TV and just hook a laptop up to it, and just watch stuff from a computer via HDMI.