Despite the implications of being placed in an opaque internet location I did a test on iCloud not long after its introduction to see if it could be used for no

Despite the implications of being placed in an opaque internet location I did a test on iCloud not long after its introduction to see if it could be used for non-sensitive things but the very first test scared me away at the point of turning off cloud sync on my Mac, notifying me that 'your local files will be deleted'. Very, very scary that (unknowingly!) I make the primary location into the cloud on setting up iCloud storage and that takes precedence and instead of just breaking link and leave disconnected items in place data loss is forced on me on my premises. To me this is - sorry for the strong word but this is the proper one here - idiotic design. I use cloud sync only for my contact list now where practicalities override privacy concern. Just recently, after years of usage (with lots of problems, merging various devices the wrong way, ending up in duplications, ghost contacts, inflated list with garbage) I turned off the sync on a computer getting retired with offering the option 'keep contact list locally' but it did not work. Selecting this option still erased ALL contacts from my local computer. Which actually was an intended way eventually, so no harm is done this specific time, but shown how unreliable and dangerous is using iCloud on top of the privacy concerns. I will remain using it for contacts - with the aforementioned problems - but will need extra care on making changes to it. It is 'ironic' when there is an intended conveninece functionality that eventually makes your life more complex and miserable than before, without that.