That it was advertised anywhere in documentation as possible is what makes it a hostile move by the manufacturer. Had this been just some kind of open secret “

That it was advertised anywhere in documentation as possible is what makes it a hostile move by the manufacturer. Had this been just some kind of open secret “hack” then buyers really should expect this. Remember: when you buy a gadget with a screen and associated “services” like video subscriptions you aren’t just buying a lump of tech. Your price is set after careful weighing of how much customers will consume the subscription services. If the add on service is provided by a third party it’s even worse: your products’ ability to deliver something other than their service is probably a breach of contract. My guess: the treadmill makers didn’t mind people watching Netflix on their gadget. Their partners on content though has given them deals on the premise that everyone who didn’t buy a subscription should have a feeling that they wasted $4k on an empty screen. So when they hear a number of users are watching Netflix, they get angry. Treadmill makers must block the god mode. The sad thing here is obviously that the idea of making a good open product without strings attached or subscriptions seems like an impossibility these days.