I'm a firmware engineer -- I basically work on these exact types of systems, and I agree completely with this sentiment. The silicon valley "pay with your privacy" model is scummy by design.

Some of this stuff is benign, but most of it is not terribly secure, so even if you have a product that was designed in good faith (they do exist - stuff that doesn't phone home to the cloud is usually at least intended to behave politely) there is a risk of it being hijacked and misused. Often a substantial risk, I am sorry to say.

On the other hand, I've kind of taken the attitude that the best way to fight surveillance is to stop wearing clothes at home. Spying on me should be its own punishment.