I realize you are making a joke, and I agree that purchase is always better than subscription. Everyone in this situation owns their device.

But that doesn’t mean an easy to activate security bypass should be made available to everyone with no guardrails, either, should it?

It will likely have that effect on some, yes. It will also prevent it from being enabled without knowing the full scope of your ask. But that’s kind of the point— it’s a big deal, and the user should be informed. Not everyone is capable of understanding these decisions immediately and accurately assessing risk.

At some point, there is always, always a compromise between user experience and security, and not everyone is going to like it. But in this instance, I think the benefits of having this process and cool-down period to make the risks known far outweigh the need for immediate gratification by the minority of users that will enable and use this feature.

Hyperbole much?

This is a basic balance between the needs of the few, and the security of the many. The benefits of a one day speed bump are far more beneficial for the billions of Android users in the world, and offer no meaningful negatives to those that wish to enable this feature beyond that delay.

I realize that many people here are in or adjacent to IT work, and so are more passionate about these sorts of topics and are well versed in the risks, but in my opinion, allowing a simple, immediate way to bypass all security checks and install whatever you want immediately is a pretty big security hole, even if it is self-created. It makes sense to put those roadblocks up to protect the 99.9% that will never use this feature, as well as those that may activate it not understanding the risk. You may be comfortable with it, and that’s great, but that doesn’t mean every Android should. This is why prompts asking about coercion and not your IT prowess.

Finally. your example is poor. Google is not breaking into your phone and hurting you in way. If anything, it’s like a real estate agent that’s not giving you the keys until the bank opens so your check can clear. It’s a process issue, nothing more.

Your ability to use your device, as you see fit, installing anything you want, is entirely possible with a single one-day delay. As I said, I don’t think it is an unreasonable ask, nor the enormous inconvenience you make it out to be.

And they’re not. Load all the unsigned stuff you want after you wait one day. Again, I don’t see how this is a huge burden to ask.

While I understand your sentiment, with all due respect, they are giving you the control with this process. You’re only mad you have to wait one day one time before you can do it.

I think it is a reasonable compromise. They could have made it a day wait for any and every time you wanted to side load like this. It prevents accidental or malicious activation, while also giving you the feature you want with the smallest of roadblocks as confirmation you want it. And you only have to do it one time. I don’t think it’s the burden you do.

The biggest thing you can do is just never connect it to the internet. I even block the MAC addresses so ever if someone tried to connect it, it won’t. Then use an external box like a Roku, PC, or AppleTV to connect to your content.

And, if any TV requires an internet connection to set it up, immediately return it.

If you have the ability, UniFi makes a good doorbell that keeps recordings on a central controller. I have one at home. Also can do people and package notifications to your phone. The downside is you also need a central controller, but if you have a spare PC or something, you can install it there. Alternatively, UniFi sells dedicated controller hardware that can also be used with their WiFi and other product lines. Hardware costs money but software is free.

There are likely other doorbells that record to a local micro sd card, but I have no experience with those.

Pop that bubble, baby!