This is the problem (at least for me). It's the same as so many products (free ones especially), people care more about price than anything else, so businesses are incentivized to produce cheaper, ad supported lineups, and inevitably nobody buys a more expensive, ad-free version. It's the same for airfares (people would rather pay less and be treated like crap than get to be a human for a bit more), shopping (get treated like cattle at walmart but save $.5 on hotdogs or whatever).

With ads there is also the idea that the rates you can charge for ads are much lower if you let people pay to opt out, because basically you've pre-segmented for the cheapskates, when advertisers would like to advertise to those with money.

Bottom line, we're screwed

Their most expensive tv also has ads. That’s such a poor excuse. They do it because they can and because literally every tv company does it consumers don’t have a choice except buying computer monitors or very expensive industrial grade displays.

I just spent $3k on a fancy TV and I was presented ads when I powered it on for the first time. I wanted to rage return the product but the sheer size makes it a hassle to take back to the store. I am beyond angry everytime I turn it on (which quickly dissipates when the video turns on and ads go away leaving me in awe of the image quality).

Are those cheap? Not being sarcastic. I honestly don't know if they're selling those at a loss. I bought my Sony Smart TV 4 years ago. I don't get any ads. It's got some apps like Youtube, Netflix, Stan etc. and that's it. No ads whatsoever.