Exactly, I have a LG washer that has a smart feature. But it works by the machine connecting to an LG server, and then their smartphone app connecting to the LG

Exactly, I have a LG washer that has a smart feature. But it works by the machine connecting to an LG server, and then their smartphone app connecting to the LG server, and matching up. Needless to say I have never connected it. Why can't they just run a local webserver or API? I'd use that. Even more if it was a documented API and I could write my own automation for it.