Problem is they are finding ways to still connect like via hdmi connection via your pc or other device connected that does have network access. Or public/open wifi and in large apartments or routers from Comcast and others that share wifi for other subscribers they piggy back off all of these.

Its crazy because them selling the physical hardware isn't super profitable but all your data is! This they need anyway to get it that they can

Yeah back when you could still get a dumb TV, the smart TVs were cheaper. The only way that makes sense is if they're selling data to subsidize the cost of the TV.

Why would you pick the small battery operated device that gets lost under couch cushions when you can put a mic in the big thing that is plugged in 24/7 and by design has a central and open placement in a room?

Why not both?

Apparently that's what some of them are doing.

Why not put an active listening device in your bank card? Why not secretly sew it into your clothes.

I'm not saying there can't be one in the remote, it's just that the TV itself is a much better option; always has power, doesn't rely on chemical batteries, doesn't need to maximize battery life, (typically) placed with open facing to a room (for clear and consistent audio.

Sure, you can put an always-on listening device on the remote, but you're gonna use more battery to power it, you're gonna need more hardware to handle communication to the TV, and more battery to power that. It's a pretty big compromise for a device that is supposed to go years without changing the batteries. All that trouble to put one in the remote when you can/probably have one in the TV already, and then then remote gets stuck in the couch cushions, or put in a drawer, or lost, or replaced with a different remote. It just doesn't make sense to me to put that kind of effort into what will inevitably be an unreliable and inconsistent spying device.