There is little point if you have a smartphone and chromecast. But a built in chromecast, or built in airplay video receiver is convenient. Few people have (or want) a dedicated PC to use with their TV.
The reason technical people (even those few that do have a pc connected to it) will, and should, buy smart TV's is because they are the most widely sold and therefore by far the best screen for the money. Large computer monitors or signage screens aren't as good or cheap as the most sold smart tv in the most sold size. They are extremely good for the price. If you don't want to use any smart features, most should work fairly well when operated without internet and just connected to an external input.
> Few people have (or want) a dedicated PC to use with their TV.
They have one though, so technical people shouldn't entertain the direct-to-consumer lie that smart TVs aren't crippled and locked-down general purpose computers.
I don’t mind my TV being another computer, and the other computers I want to use with it are probably only my iPhone and Chromecast (incidentally also locked down general purpose ARM computers).
The last thing I would want even as a tech savvy person is to use a desktop or laptop with a TV in any way.
The reason technical people (even those few that do have a pc connected to it) will, and should, buy smart TV's is because they are the most widely sold and therefore by far the best screen for the money. Large computer monitors or signage screens aren't as good or cheap as the most sold smart tv in the most sold size. They are extremely good for the price. If you don't want to use any smart features, most should work fairly well when operated without internet and just connected to an external input.