Updated 03-Aug-2025
Google is such a tool. Even with apps only mode they show full-screen background ads on top of everything. Without that mode, nearly every element on the screen pushes apps and content that is unwanted and unneeded. It is now impossible to remove this without changing Google TV / Android TV launchers. Thankfully, this is actually straightforward (and ad-free) with the Projectivy Launcher. Install and done. Really, Google is more and more a nuisance wrapped around core open source productivity.
Kodi
Looking at Kodi to replace the basic Chromecast functionality. There is a lot of effort I need to put into file / folder naming so that metadata is imported correctly, otherwise it becomes an unholy mess. One thing is that Kodi can actually support games as well.
Replace YouTube app
Perhaps with SmartTube, Invidious, or something else?