As an end user like you I must admit I still use my Amazon fire on my tv it's smart I just don't use it at all...and I have a sony and love it but if you can find a good dumb tv and don't value smart tv like you said their are a few models...And I mean like 6-8 lol...
In other words you really don't have a choice...I however don't think the smart tv is what they use to keep the price up...they know a person can but a streaming box in their tv and have the same channels but it's seen as a premium ability