Any reason why not here?
> consumer rights only protect individuals
he's an individual. It was not apparently a business expense
> with little if any protection
If you're in the EU you've got protection.
> that modern devices often contain large amounts of private data
It's a TV so in this case so what (in general, perhaps, but don't most devices have encryption?)
> And it's all rather academic anyway if competition in that market has failed and all the major products are doing to same user-hostile things
And you're rolling over hopelessly as if you can't do anything. Fair enough, you get (nothing) what you give (nothing).
> because representatives usually aren't technical experts and so may not understand the implications of modern technologies or the potential alternatives to current practice
IT'S A TV! WITH CRAPPY UI RESPONSE! Stop making excuses for bad practice. Do something.
> the tide of increasingly user-hostile actions will only continue to rise
OK, let's stop here. I complain when necessary & shit gets fixed quite often. You clearly can't be bothered to fight back so you're rationalising that it's not worth it. I'm not wasting time on this.