Yes. First, despite the simplification of the cables, physically connecting it can still be a challenge, for example if there's no convenient place to put a la

Yes. First, despite the simplification of the cables, physically connecting it can still be a challenge, for example if there's no convenient place to put a laptop within 6' of the TV. And power for the laptop there too. Second, once its connected, it's no certainty that the external display will be correctly detected or set to the correct resolution. Is the picture streched? When you hit full-screen, does it only show on the laptop? Is sound going over HDMI too? Tinkering with settings and troubleshooting a multi-monitor setup can be intimidating for the "average consumer". Even if you get everything setup, many laptops do no come with remote controls, and long HDMI cables are uncommon. I've owned or own a Roku, a TV which had USB and could play anything FFMPEG could read, a PS3 with netflix and recently an AppleTV+iPad. I'd consider myself reasonably technically inclined and have had an HDMI cable which comfortably reached my couch for quite awhile but I still use that as a last resort for content I can't play some other way.