Kinda reminds me of the Little Printer from Berg, which came out ocer a decade ago. https://www.fastcompany.com/90352461/the-little-printer-a-cult-classic-of-2010s-design-is-back

Paramount Plus is the same way.

If you’re going to hang onto the files for the foreseeable future, there is a big difference. Streaming services only grang you access as long as you pay. You rent access from them. Just because you subscribe to Hulu doesn’t mean you own anything. iTunes is a different story.

By “high seas”, you’re referring to torrenting, right? Not ripping DVDs and Blu-Rays?

never been connected to any external network

Do you mean it’s never been able to connect to the Internet? Or that it doesn’t to talk to HP? Is it just shared from one PC or via a CUPS server or something like that?

This isn’t actually new, but yes, it is infuriating. It’s also why I haven’t bought an HP printer. Well, at least since I found out about this issue back in 2017 or so.