I wouldn't expect it's because there's a server call - I'm sure the developers are smart enough to have all the analytics and tracking be async in the background.

Instead it's likely because these days every aspect of the TV is implemented in software running on the TV's CPU. With pre-smart devices, changing inputs would just activate some discreet on-board electronics to switch the signal over with no latency. Now you have to wait for the processor to get around to it, and it's probably busy loading up a bunch of app launchers and other crap you don't need, and doing some fancy whoosh-in animations, all of which is just getting in the way of what you actually want.

That would be so much easier if companies weren't dedicated to making CEC confusing as all hell through naming schemes:

So for the vast majority of these manufacturers, you can't just look up "CEC," you have to know what their branded version of it is called, and each company has named it something different.

I'm all for easy compatibility and interoperability, but this is an example highlighting how hard these companies work to make these things not obvious and not consumer friendly.

EDIT: One final complaint from the tech-nerd sphere: I run everything via a Plex server, and while I have one Amazon FireStick, I'm mostly using HTPC's and the amount of hoops to have to jump through to get CEC working with a PC is kind of fucking maddening. I shouldn't have to be a Powershell wizard to get it to work.

Can you give an example of one? Last time I looked it seemed like all the major brands only had smart TV options. So I end up using streaming dongles on smart TVs to avoid the lag, but I would much rather just have dumb TVs.

I heard projectors don't have any smart garbage. I might try that next time I need a new large TV.

wild, when I bought a Vizio a decade ago it had super low input lag compared to other TVs. Never let it touch the internet tho, eww