While i agree with you, unfortunately Chromebook gaining popularity on low-end/cheap laptop category. Although unlike Android, some chromebook currently let you install different OS with no or little hurdle.
I can (unfortunately) confirm this. Chromebooks are already being issued to our primary school pupils and used in lessons. The children learn to work with these systems right from the start and therefore don't even know how limited the devices actually are.
Chrome OS (which is default OS comes with most Chromebook) let you run Android apps, so some people wouldn't notice limitation of the device and OS.
However, I have not noticed any (excessive) advertising on the Chromebooks, no. It was very different with a Windows 11 computer that I recently had to repair. These adverts come across very obtrusively as "tips" or "suggested apps" and tempt inexperienced users to click ... and to buy:
On other hand, google use personalized algorithm on it's product (e.g. search result and suggestion on youtube) which has some controversy.
But in my experience, Microsoft's spyware programs do not consume a lot of resources once they lose network connectivity.
This topic talking about running full node though, so device which run full node software must connected to internet all the time.
but if you work at it you can kill off a few windows 11 spyware apps and still be online.
frankly I run nodes on linux now. as my prime choice of Mac mini's has killed the cloning ssds as external booters thus making them too hard to back up and or upgrade.
